# Evaluation of the Effect of Artemisia Absinthium L. Eye-Cream on Infra-Orbital Dark Circle: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

## TL;DR

This study tested an eye cream made from Artemisia absinthium to reduce dark circles under the eyes, finding it more effective than a placebo.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is evaluating a Persian medicine herbal cream's efficacy in treating infra-orbital dark circles through a clinical trial.

## Key findings

- The treatment group showed greater reduction in dark circles and melanin compared to the placebo group.
- The cream was standardized with 1.29 µg/mg Artemisinin, ensuring consistent formulation.
- Melanin levels significantly differed between groups after treatment, indicating the cream's effectiveness.

## Abstract

Background: The relative darkening of the lower eyelid skin, which is often
linked with dark circles, may make you seem fatigued and older than your real
age. Considering the recommendations in the sources of Persian medicine
regarding Artemisia absinthium L., the purpose of this clinical trial is
investigating the effectiveness of cream prepared from the aqueous extraction of
A.absinthium to remove periorbital dark circles.Materials and Methods: The eye
cream is made with 20% of aqueous extract of A.absinthium in the base of the
cream. It was standardized based on Artemisinin via HPLC method. For the
clinical trial, 60 patients equally enrolled in two drug and placebo groups.
Erythema and Pigmentation were evaluated via a mexameter instrument. Results:
The cream is standardized, including 1.29±0.02 µg/mg Artemisinin in the product.
Finally, 21 and 24 patients reached the end of study in drug and placebo groups,
respectively. In these groups, the difference in the mean (SD) DE, DL, Erythema
and Melanin factors before and after the research were significant (p0.05).
However, the rate of reduction of DE, Erythema, and Melanin and rise of DL is
greater in the treatment group than in the placebo group. Furthermore, the mean
value of DE and DL factors before the research were significantly different in
two groups (p0.001), but after the research did not show a significant
difference. The mean value of Erythema factor in the two groups before (p=0.25)
and after (p=0.5) did not show a significant difference. The mean value of
Melanin after the research between two groups showed a significant difference
(p=0.01). Conclusion: The results show that the cream prepared from the herbal
composition of Persian medicine improves Infra Orbital Dark circle around the
eyes.