Evaluation of Anti-Propionibacterium Acnes and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Polyphenolic Extracts of Medicinal Herbs in Jordan

Development of solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) containing asiatic acid for topical treatment of acne: Characterization, stability, in vitro and in vivo anti-acne assessment

Solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) represent a promising approach for drug delivery in anti-acne applications. In this study, asiatic acid-loaded SLMs (AASLMs) were prepared by melt emulsification method in conjunction with freeze-drying. Comprehensive evaluations comprised particle size, %entrapment efficiency (%EE), %labeled amount (%LA), surface morphology, stability, %release, %skin permeation, and anti-acne activity. The AASLMs exhibited an average particle size ranging from 7.46 to 38.86 µm, with %EE and %LA falling within the range of 31.56 to 100.00 and 90.43 to 95.38, respectively. The AASLMs demonstrated a spherical shape under scanning electron microscopy, and maintained stability over a 3-month period. Notably, formulations with 10 % and 15 % cetyl alcohol stabilized with poloxamer-188 (specifically F6 and F12) displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 75 mg/ml against Cutibacterium acnes. Furthermore, F12 exhibited a higher %release and %skin permeation compared to F6 over 24 h. In a single-blind clinical trial involving fifteen participants with mild-to-moderate acne, F12 showcased its potential not only in reducing porphyrin intensity and enhancing skin barriers but also in significantly improving skin hydration and brightness. However, further investigations with larger subject cohorts encompassing diverse age groups and genders are necessary to thoroughly establish the performance of the developed AASLMs.

Medicinal plants of Jordan: Scoping review

Jordan is rich in the flora of ethnobotanical importance. This scoping review aims to highlight the ethnopharmacological value of Jordanian medicinal plants using the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of one hundred twenty-four articles published between 2000 and 2022 obtained from PubMed, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases were included in this review. These plants own several classes of secondary bioactive metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and terpenes. Jordanian plants exhibited potential therapeutic activity against various tumors, bacterial infections, elevated blood glucose levels, hyperlipidemia, platelets aggregation disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders. Phytochemicals' biological activities depend on their structures, parts used, methods of extraction, and evaluation model. In conclusion, this review highlights the need of researching Jordan's abundant naturally occurring medicinal plants and their phytochemicals as novel lead molecules in drug discovery and development. Studying active phytochemicals for disease treatment will help develop drugs for safe treatment and cure in the future.

Important Flavonoids and Their Role as a Therapeutic Agent

Flavonoids are phytochemical compounds present in many plants, fruits, vegetables, and leaves, with potential applications in medicinal chemistry. Flavonoids possess a number of medicinal benefits, including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. They also have neuroprotective and cardio-protective effects. These biological activities depend upon the type of flavonoid, its (possible) mode of action, and its bioavailability. These cost-effective medicinal components have significant biological activities, and their effectiveness has been proved for a variety of diseases. The most recent work is focused on their isolation, synthesis of their analogs, and their effects on human health using a variety of techniques and animal models. Thousands of flavonoids have been successfully isolated, and this number increases steadily. We have therefore made an effort to summarize the isolated flavonoids with useful activities in order to gain a better understanding of their effects on human health.

Lactobacillus paraplantarum THG-G10 as a potential anti-acne agent with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities

Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) is the main bacterium targeted for the prevention and medical treatment of acne vulgaris. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are a group of microorganisms classified by their ability to produce lactic acid through fermentation. Although the activities of LAB have been studied, their potential anti-acne effects are not well known. Here, Lactobacillus paraplantarum THG-G10, which has anti-bacterial activity against C. acnes, was isolated from traditional Kimchi in Republic of Korea. The anti-acne effects of dried cell-free supernatant of L. paraplantarum THG-G10 (DC-G10) were evaluated by determining its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities. Anti-microbial activity was examined by a broth dilution assay: 25 mg/ml of DC-G10 inhibited the growth of C. acnes KCTC 5012 and KACC 1194; salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for acne treatment inhibited the growth of C. acnes KCTC 5012 and KACC 11946 at concentrations of 1.25 and 7.5 mg/ml, respectively; and tea tree oil inhibited the growth of C. acnes KCTC 5012 but not the growth of C. acnes KACC 11946 at 50 mg/ml. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by a nitric oxide (NO) assay: only DC-G10 and ascorbic acid reduced LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the toxicities of erythromycin, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, and DC-G10 were examined in HaCaT cells and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). In these cells, the cytotoxic effects of DC-G10 were weaker than the effects of erythromycin, benzoyl peroxide, and ascorbic acid. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed that DC-G10 induces deleterious morphological changes in the bacterial cell membrane. These results demonstrate that DC-G10 may be an effective and safe treatment for acne vulgaris.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Fruit Extract and Skin Microbiota: A Focus on C. acnes Phylotypes in Acne Subjects

Knowing that Rhodomyrtus tomentosa is known to have antibacterial effects, this study investigated the skin microbiota with a focus on Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) phylotypes in subjects with acne, and determined microbiota changes after 28 days of treatment with berries Rhodomyrtus tomentosa as an active ingredient (RT). Skin swabs from seventeen acne subjects were collected and the skin microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A culture-independent next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based SLST (single-locus sequence typing) approach was aimed at evaluating RT extract effects on C. acnes phylotype repartition. Clinical evaluations (lesion counts) were performed at baseline (D0) and after 28 days (D28) of twice-daily application of the RT active ingredient. We determined: (1) the skin microbiota at D0 was dominated by Actinobacteria followed by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria; (2) at the genus level, Cutibacterium was the most abundant genus followed by Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium; (3) C. acnes was the major species in terms of mean abundance, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Staphylococcus hominis (S. hominis); and (4) phylotype IA1 was most represented, with a predominance of SLST type A1, followed by phylotypes II, IB, IA2, IC, and III. After 28 days of RT extract treatment, phylotype repartition were modified with a decrease in abundance (approximately 4%) of phylotype IA1 and an increase in phylotype II and III. Cutibacterium granulosum (C. granulosum) abundance also decreased. Reduction of retentional and inflammatory lesions was also noted only after RT treatment; thus, RT extract acts as a microbiota-regulating agent.