Preclinical studies of a novel polyherbal phyto–complex hair growth promoting cream

Potential role of herbal nanoformulations for skin disorders: a review

Aim: In the recent advanced study, the popularity of herbal nano-formulation has gained around the whole world. As we know the reason behind it is that herbal products have comparatively lesser side effects than other synthetic products. Significance: These natural plant extracts have wide medicinal importance as they increase the overall bioavailability of products toward tissues. Key findings: This review provides the use of different herbal nano-formulations, their safety considerations, and the challenges being faced. It also highlights the various Clinical Trials and Patents that are published for skin disorders. Conclusion: The present review describes how the rise of herbal products has made wider interest in transdermal formulations and improve the overall productivity by preventing various skin disorders.

Efficacy of An Aqueous Morinda citrifolia Fruit Extract-Phytosome Gel in Treating Oral Inflammatory Ulcer in Rabbit Model

BACKGROUND

Oral inflammatory ulcers are one of the common complaints of patients attending out-patient clinics. Previous in vivo studies had shown that an Aqueous M. citrifolia Fruit Extract (AMFE) possessed anti-inflammatory and ulcer healing activities. Therefore, a standardized topical bioadhesive gel containing AMFE-phytosome was developed and determined for its oral ulcer healing efficacy in a rabbit model.

METHODS

The AMFE phytosome (AMFE-P) was prepared by a complexation method with the required amount of AMFE: Phosphatidylcholine: Tween 80 to weigh ratio of 2:1:0.2. Poloxamer 407 was used as a gelling agent. The oral ulcer was induced in male New Zealand white rabbits by topical application of acetic acid. Each test compound was applied to the ulcer for 10 days beginning on the second day after the ulcer induction. Complete ulcer healing on the specimen obtained on day 12 was observed histologically using the histological scoring protocol.

RESULTS

The optimized gel containing AMFE-P equivalent to AMFE 10%w/w (10%AMFE-P gel) showed the best bioadhesive gel quality, a smooth and homogeneous texture with an optimum viscosity and pH range used in human oral cavity, a good physical and chemical stability and the highest percentage cumulative release of total phenolic and scopoletin content. It was found that a daily application of 10% AMFE-P gel exerted a superior ulcer healing efficacy and a significantly rapid ulcer healing process than a twice daily application of topical gel containing AMFE 10%w/w or chlorhexidine 0.2%.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that 10% AMFE-P gel has potential as a safe and effective alternative therapeutic agent for oral ulcers.

Development and Evaluation of a Novel Delivery System Containing Phytophospholipid Complex for Skin Aging

Citrus auranticum and Glycyrrhiza glabra are rich in anti-oxidant polyphenols helpful in prevention of skin aging. Polyphenols have high polarity and lower skin penetration resulting in lower cutaneous delivery. The present work is attempted to develop a novel polyherbal phospholipid complex cream to improve cutaneous delivery of polyphenols for sustained anti-oxidant action. Phytochemical and in vitro anti-oxidant evaluation was done on methanolic extracts of orange peel and liquorice powder. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and anti-oxidant assays were done on different ratios of orange peel and liquorice extract. Ratio 1:2 gave highest total phenolic content (TPC) (530.00 ± 1.56 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g(-1) extract), total flavonoid content (TFC) (246.25 ± 1.03 mg rutin equivalent (RUE) g(-1) extract), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (87.99 ± 0.64%), and H2O2 scavenging activity (72.47 ± 0.86%) and hence was used for formulation. Solvent evaporation method using methanol with 1:1 extract to phospholipid ratio was found to have entrapment efficiency of 93.22 ± 0.26%. Evaluation parameters like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FT-IR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed formation of complex. The complex was formulated as oil-in-water cream and evaluated for various parameters. The optimized cream containing 1% complex was non-irritant and was found to be stable for 3-month period under conditions of stability study. Ex vivo diffusion studies showed that extract phospholipid complex cream had better retention of polyphenols in the skin when compared to conventional extract cream giving prolonged and stronger topical action. The cream had an anti-elastase activity of 28.02 ± 0.95% at concentration of 3000 μg ml(-1) (w/v). Thus, the developed safe and stable polyherbal phytophospholipid complex cream exhibited good potential as anti-aging cosmeceutical.

In vitro wound healing and cytotoxic effects of sinigrin-phytosome complex

Sinigrin is a class of glucosinolates found naturally in plants of the Brassicaceae family. Lately, studies have shown that sinigrin possesses anticancer, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Since its efficacy has not been explored on wound healing, we examined the effect of sinigrin on HaCaT cells. We also aimed at formulating sinigrin into phytosome to form a sinigrin-phytosome complex and study the wound healing and cytotoxic activities on A-375 and HaCaT cells. Sinigrin was efficiently formulated into the phytosome with an average particle size of 153 ± 39 nm, zeta potential of 10.09 ± 0.98 mV and complex efficiency of 69.5 ± 5%. The formation of the sinigrin-phytosome complex was confirmed by DSC and FTIR analysis. The sinigrin-phytosome complex significantly exhibited wound healing effects when compared to sinigrin alone. After 42 h, the phytosome complex completely healed the wound, whereas sinigrin alone showed only 71% wound closure. The sinigrin-phytosome complex displayed minimal toxicity towards HaCaT cells and at higher concentrations, it showed potent activity towards A-375. The results indicated that sinigrin-phytosome complex augmented the therapeutic potential of sinigrin towards the wound healing activity and this approach should be explored further for cancerous wound treatment.