Acne is a skin disorder which is caused by the bacterium Propionibacterium
Acne. One of the subtances that can be benefited as an antibacterial agents is
essential fennel oil (Foeniculum vulgare, Mill). The purpose of this study were to
determine the optimum composition of cera alba and stearic acid in essential fennel
oil cream, and to get the optimum formula of essential fennel oil which has
antibacterial activity. This research was an experimental study using D-Optimal
Mixture Design method where cera alba and stearic acid are formulated into o/w
cream in 9 compositions and seen by response of viscosity test, spread ability test,
and pH test using Design Expert® 7.1.5 and continued with the test T-Test with 95%
confidence level for formula verification. While the antibacterial activity test in the
form of inhibition zones were analyzed by One Way Anova. The results obtained are
the optimum formula has a desirability value of , with a composition of cera alba 8
grams and stearic acid 10 grams. Cera alba has an effect on increasing the response
of spread ability and pH, and on the viscosity response of stearic acid is more
influential. The results of verification of the optimum formula showed the
experimental value and the predicted value was not significantly different (p <0.05).
One Way Anova results showed a significant difference in negative control, positive
control and fennel essential oil cream formula on the growth of p.acne bacteria (p
<0.05).