Formulation, characterization and sunscreen potential evaluation of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil nanoemulsion

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil is one of the natural resources with antioxidant activity and has the potential to be applied as a sunscreen to prevent free-radical reactions caused by UV light. This research aimed to formulate lemongrass oil nanoemulsion, characterize, and examine its potency as a sunscreen. Lemongrass oil nanoemulsion was formulated with 1, 3, 5, and 7% of oil concentrations. The characterization included organoleptic tests, pH tests, viscosity tests, transmittance percentage (%T) tests, nanoemulsion type tests, droplet size tests, and thermodynamic stability tests. Based on the organoleptic test, nanoemulsions with oil concentrations of 1, 3, and 5% showed clear visual and good stability, while the nanoemulsion 7% exhibited turbid visual and instability. The pH tests revealed that the prepared formulas were safe to be used on the skin. The viscosity tests displayed the viscosity values were