Abstract
Purpose: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the pilosebaceous units. With the rise of antibiotic resistance and the potential side effects associated with conventional treatments, there is increasing interest in exploring natural alternatives for treating acne. This study aimed to formulate and clinically evaluate a topical gel containing clove oil and curcumin in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, using topical clindamycin as a standard comparator. Methods: The antibacterial activity of clove oil and curcumin against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) was assessed by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Based on these findings, semisolid gel formulations were developed and subjected to in vitro evaluations. Subsequently, a single-blind, randomized, comparative clinical study was conducted in 31 participants diagnosed with mild to moderate acne. Volunteers applied clindamycin gel in the morning and the clove oil–curcumin gel in the evening, or vice versa, over a 4-week period. Clinical outcomes, including acne lesion counts, Acne Severity Index (ASI), and patient satisfaction, were assessed. Results: The clove oil-curcumin gel demonstrated comparable efficacy to clindamycin in reducing acne lesions, papules, and ASI. While no significant differences were observed between the two groups in comedone reduction, patient satisfaction increased in clove oil-curcumin gel group. Conclusion: Topical application of a gel containing clove oil and curcumin demonstrated promising results as an effective and well-tolerated alternative or adjunctive therapy for acne vulgaris. These findings support the potential of plant-based formulations in acne management.