Seeking new acne treatment from natural products, devices and synthetic drug discovery

Curcumin/Fusidic Acid Bitherapy Loaded Mixed Micellar Nanogel for Acne Vulgaris Treatment: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

The combination of herbal drugs with a topical antibacterial for managing a chronic disease like acne vulgaris has emerged lately to settle side effects and bacterial multidrug resistance. Mixed micelles (MMs) incorporated into nanogel were explored for hybrid delivery of curcumin (Cur) and fusidic acid (FA) combination presenting a multi-strategic treatment. Curcumin-fusidic acid-loaded mixed micelles (Cur-FA-MMs) were assessed for size, surface charge, compatibility, in vitro release, and encapsulation. The selected formula was further loaded into nanogel and investigated for viscosity, ex vivo permeation, and in vivo potential. Cur-FA-MMs exhibited uniform nanosized spherical morphology, and negative surface charge affording high encapsulation for both drugs with a biphasic in vitro release over a period of 48h and good colloidal stability. The attained Cur-FA-MM-loaded nanogel had optimum viscosity with remarkable permeation coefficient values nearly 2-fold that related to plain nanogel. The pharmacodynamic effect of Cur on FA was pronounced by the significant improvement of the skin's degree of inflammation, epidermal hypertrophy, and congestion in animals treated with Cur-FA-MM-loaded nanogel. In conclusion, micellar nanogel could enable the progressive effect of Cur (an antioxidant with reported antibiotic activity) on FA (antibiotic) and decrease the risk of emerging antibiotic resistance by enhancing the solubility and permeation of Cur.

Chemical Profile and In Vitro Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Dioscorea communis Berry Juice

Within the large family of Dioscoreaceae, Dioscorea communis (L.) Caddick & Wilkin (syn. Tamus communis L.) is considered among the four most widespread representatives in Europe, and it is commonly known under the name black bryony or bryonia. To date, reports have revealed several chemical components from the leaves and tubers of this plant. Nevertheless, an extensive phytochemical investigation has not been performed on its berry juice. In the present study, metabolite profiling procedures, using LC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR approaches, were applied to investigate the chemical profile of the D. communis berries. This work reveals the presence of several metabolites belonging to different phytochemical groups, such as fatty acid esters, alkylamides, phenolic derivatives, and organic acids, with lactic acid being predominant. In parallel, based on orally transmitted traditional uses, the initial extract and selected fractions were tested in vitro for their antibacterial effects and exhibited good activity against two bacterial strains related to skin infections: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Cutibacterium acnes. The MIC and MBC values of the extract were determined at 1.56% w/v against both bacteria. The results of this study provide important information on the chemical characterization of the D. communis berry juice, unveiling the presence of 71 metabolites, which might contribute to and further explain its specific antibacterial activity and its occasional toxicity.

Gelidiales Are Not Just Agar—Revealing the Antimicrobial Potential of Gelidium corneum for Skin Disorders

In recent decades, seaweeds have proven to be an excellent source of bioactive molecules. Presently, the seaweed Gelidium corneum is harvested in a small area of the Portuguese coast exclusively for agar extraction. The aim of this work was to fully disclosure Gelidium corneum as a sustainable source of antimicrobial ingredients for new dermatological formulations, highlighting its potential to be explored in a circular economy context. For this purpose, after a green sequential extraction, these seaweed fractions (F1–F5) were chemically characterized (¹H NMR) and evaluated for their antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes. The most active fractions were also evaluated for their effects on membrane potential, membrane integrity and DNA damage. Fractions F2 and F3 displayed the best results, with IC₅₀ values of 16.1 (7.27–23.02) μg/mL and 51.04 (43.36–59.74) μg/mL against C. acnes, respectively, and 53.29 (48.75–57.91) μg/mL and 102.80 (87.15–122.30) μg/mL against S. epidermidis, respectively. The antimicrobial effects of both fractions seem to be related to membrane hyperpolarization and DNA damage. This dual mechanism of action may provide therapeutic advantages for the treatment of skin dysbiosis-related diseases.

Lupeol-induced nitric oxide elicits apoptosis-like death within Escherichia coli in a DNA fragmentation-independent manner

Lupeol is known to be plentiful in fruits or plant barks and has an antimicrobial effect, however, its mode of action(s) has yet to be determined. To elucidate lupeol generates nitric oxide (NO), which is recognized for possessing an antimicrobial activity, intracellular NO was measured in Escherichia coli using DAF-FM. Using the properties of NO passing through plasma membrane easily, increased malondialdehyde levels have shown that lupeol causes lipid peroxidation, and the resulting membrane depolarization was confirmed by DiBAC4(3). These data indicated that lupeol-induced NO is related to the destruction of bacterial membrane. Further study was performed to examine whether NO, known as a cell proliferation inhibitor, affects bacterial cell division. As a result, DAPI staining verified that lupeol promotes cell division arrest, and followed by early apoptosis is observed in Annexin V/PI double staining. Even though these apoptotic hallmarks appeared, the endonuclease failed to perform properly with supporting data of decreased intracellular Mg2+ and Ca2+ levels without DNA fragmentation, which is confirmed using a TUNEL assay. These findings indicated that lupeol-induced NO occurs DNA fragmentation-independent bacterial apoptosis-like death (ALD). Additionally, lupeol triggers DNA filamentation and morphological changes in response to DNA repair system called SOS system. In accordance with the fact that ALD deems to SOS response, and that the RecA is considered as a caspase-like protein, increase in caspase-like protein activation occurred in E. coli wild-type, and no ΔRecA mutant. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the antibacterial mode of action(s) of lupeol is an ALD while generating NO.

Formula Optimization of Annona muricata Folium Ethanolic Extract of Anti Acne Gel Formulation using Factorial Design Method

Acne is a pile of oil glands in the skin that are actively being clogged by dirt and infection because of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The treatment for acne can use herbal ingredients, one of which is Soursop (Annona muricata L.) leaves ethanolic extract. Annona muricata folium ethanolic extract is known to have alkaloid, flavonoid and polyphenol compounds which can inhibit the growth of P. acnes, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus. Suitable dosage forms for anti-acne preparations are gels because the gel contains much water so that it provides a cooling effect on the skin due to inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of carbopol 940 and Propylene glycol on the physical characteristics of the gel preparation and determine the optimum formula of the gel preparation using factorial design software 22 so that the gel preparation was made in four formulas. The data obtained were then analyzed using Design-Expert� and ANOVA software with a confidence level of 95%, and the determination of the optimum formula based on the optimum superimposed contour plot area. The results of the study using a factorial design approach are known that Propylene glycol has an effect on increasing the spreadability and pH while carbopol 940 has a more significant impact on the increase in adhesion and viscosity, and the optimum area of ??the composition of carbopol 940 1.536% and propylene glycol 5% was obtained.