Evaluation of antibacterial, antioxidant and wound healing properties of seven traditional medicinal plants from India in experimental animals

Objective: To evaluate the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Curcuma longa, Cleome gynandra, Triticum aestivum, Vitis vinifera L - Black Raisins (Zante Currants) and brown raisins (Sultanas) for in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and wound healing activity. Methods: The free radical scavenging activity was studied in vitro by measuring DPPH, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and total antioxidant assays of these plant extracts. Antibacterial activities were evaluated against five microorganisms using agar well diffusion method. The wounds were created on the skin of the rabbits by crushing the Paederus fuscipes beetles and applying the pederin which produced inflammation and wound after two days. Results: Antibacterial activities were evaluated against five microorganisms in which A. indica, C. longa, T. bellirica, E. officinalis and T. chebula showed significant activity with a MIC of 1.562 mg/ml, 3.125 mg/ml respectively. The plant extracts of brown raisins Vitis vinifera, A. indica, T. bellirica, E. officinalis and T. chebula showed remarkable antioxidant activity. The topical application of individual and combination of plant extracts on wounds caused significantly faster healing (83%) in wound area as compared to the commercial ointment (76.6%). Conclusions: This results shows that the combination of these plant extracts possess effective wound healing properties due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities by possessing the active compounds such as flavonoids (polyphenols), terpenes, alkaloids, saponins.

A Case of Paederus Dermatitis due to paederus fuscipes / 대한피부과학회지

Paederus dermatitis is a linear and self-healing blistering disease of the skin caused by contact with insects belonging to genus Paederus(Coieoptera : Staphylinidae). There have been only a few reports of paederus dermatitis in the southern part of Korea since 1968. We recently experienced a case of paederus dermatitis due to contact by P. fuscipes.

Epidemiologic Study of Paederus Dermatitis Prevailing in the Midwest Area of Kyungpuk Province / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Paederus derriattis is a peculiar linear lesion caused by an insect belonging to genus Paederus, family Staptylinidae, order Coleoptera. The deliberate or accidental contact of crushed coelomic fluid of th insect, on the skin causes acute lesions due to a t.oxin(pederin) being released. OBJECTIVE: The study was nade in order to investigate an epidemic status of the peculiar der matitis and its causative agent of factor prevailing in the midwest area of Kyungpuk province. METHODS: We performed field approaches on 633 cases(M: 303, F: 330) including cases enrolled in a local clinic, teamiring up with a local skin clinician over the 3-month period of August November in 1994. RESULTS: 1. The captive insect causing the present dermatits, was identified as Paederus fuscipes(PF). The epidemic might be attributeid to the climatic conditions with higher temperature than usual during the period of July-eary September in the past year by 3-4degrees C as well as a lower relative humidity. The active temperature zone for PF was presumed to be about 15.5+1.2degrees C to 28.9+1.0degrees C 2. There was the highest p;evalence of 412 cases(65.1%) in early September, followed by mid September, late August, early October and mid August in a small number of cases in decreasing order. The cases were not found after mid October. 3. All age groups were evealy represented. The sex ratio was 1: 1.1 with little difference. The majority of cases lived in Kiriich on city(80.3%), with a lesser outbreak in the neighboring coun ties and Kumi city. 4. The preferred site was the mainly exposed area such as face, neck and extremities. The number of lesion was single(60%) and multiple(40%). The lesion showed a common linear con figuration and acute irritant contact dermatitis consistent with the histologic finding. CONCLUSION: The unusual wiather conditions and poor environmental hygiene help to develop an ecosystem breakdown, which, in turn, sometimes influences the innocuous insects life to be harm ful being on humans, as like outbreak of PF dermatitis.

Clinical and Entomological Studies of Paederus Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

Paederus dermstitis (or dermatitis linearis), caused by the insect genus Paederus, is characterized by linear erythernatous, vesicopustular lesions. In 1968, we proved that causative agent is Paederus fuscipes. During the 20-year period since then (from June 1968 to September 1988), we have experienced 156 cases of the diseaes in our clinic, and the clinical features were studied with the following results. (1) They were found only during summer months from June to September. Most prevalent in June(47%), followed by August, July and September, in decreasing order. (2) People in their twenties were affected most often(10%), with females outnumbering males, by approximately 2.8 to 1. (3) The lesions were found exclusively over exposed areas, such as face, neck, and extremities (4) Experiments on a volunteer revealed that the same skin lesions as in the patients can be produced by rubbing the anal portion of the insect. (5) Spongiosis and subcorneal pustule of epidermis were the main histopathological findings. (6) The insects appear ant-like and measures 6.5 to 7mm in length. It has a black, round head with pslpuli black, rectangular, short elytra, yellowish brown pronotum and abdomen composed of 6 segments, of which two caudal ones(hypopygium) were dark brown. The meso and metathorax, and the lower ends of the femurs in meso and metapedes appear dark brown. (7) Wide use of potent pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides as well as the urbanization may have reduced the out breaks of the disease in recent years.