Author

Vikash Rana and Navneet Bithel

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate and compare the photostability and sun protection effectiveness of a novel herbal sunscreen formulation containing havan ash with a commercial sunscreen. The in vivo Sun Protection Factor (SPF) was determined using ISO 24444 guidelines, and photostability was assessed using the Area Under Curve Index (AUCI) based on UV absorbance before and after irradiation. The commercial sunscreen exhibited a high SPF (50.72 ± 0.18), while the herbal formulation and havan ash alone showed comparatively lower protection (SPF 6–7). Coated ZnO and TiO₂ demonstrated excellent photostability (AUCI 0.98 and 0.97), whereas havan ash alone showed poor stability (AUCI 0.76). The herbal formulation showed comparatively improved photostability (AUCI 0.82), indicating partial resistance to UV degradation. The commercial sunscreen showed high stability (AUCI 0.91). A limitation of the present study is the absence of systematic optimization of the ingredient composition to enhance SPF. The formulation should be further optimized by maintaining fixed ratio of havan ash and natural ingredients while incorporating inorganic UV filters (e.g., ZnO, TiO2) to explore the effects of varying their concentrations on photoprotective performance.

Page:156-167

Doi Number 10.61289/jibs2026.04.30.0557

Keywords Havan ash, Photostability, Sunscreen, Sun Protection Factor (SPF), UV-Visible spectroscopy, XRD.