Pharmacological Attributes of Bombax ceiba L.

The plant Bombax ceiba L. is a light demander, fast-growing plant. It is used in the treatment of many diseases. Our ancestors had a great knowledge of this plant and used to treat various ailments without having any side effects and the knowledge of the same has been transferred down to generations. The plant has stimulant, astringent, cooling, anti- inflammatory, antimicrobial effect, etc. among many other health benefits.

A clinical evaluation on the effect of astringent on keratinization of oral mucosa before and after the insertion of complete denture

Context: Conventional complete dentures still remain a viable method of treatment for many patients in this era of fixed prosthesis like dental implants. All patients undergoing complete denture treatment need nonsurgical preprosthetic treatment for the preparation of healthy denture bearing mucosa as well-keratinized healthy mucosa is desirable for a complete denture. Aims: To evaluate and compare the keratinization before and after denture insertion at intervals of 1 week and 1 month. Settings and Design: The present study was conducted on 24 completely edentulous male subjects divided into control and study groups. Each patient in study group was asked to massage with astringent on the denture bearing mucosa over a 4-week period. Subjects and Methods: Exfoliative cytology was used to collect the surface cells from the palatal mucosa and buccal mucosa. The first smear was taken before the denture insertion. The second and third smears were taken after the stimulation treatment with astringent gel for each patient after 1 week and after 4 weeks. Each smear was stained with the Papanicolaou's technique. The number of basal cells, intermediate cells, and superficial cells were recorded to calculate the degree of keratinization. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, independent t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: The result showed statistically significant increase in the keratinization of palatal mucosa after 4 weeks of astringent therapy and no effect was noted in the keratinization of buccal mucosa. Conclusions: Astringent has shown to increase keratinization of palatal mucosa, and so it can be used to increase the quality of the denture bearing mucosa; moreover, the astringent stimulation has no effect on the keratinization of buccal mucosa.

Is Sour Taste of Paeoniae Radix Phantom? / 日本東洋医学雑誌

It is theoretically thought that Paeoniae Radix (shakuyaku) has a sour taste and astringent action in traditional Chinese medicine. To examine the practical taste of shakuyaku, 12 volunteers sampled the decoction of Paeoniae Radix Rubra (sekishaku) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (byakushaku). Each volunteer determined how sekishaku and byakushaku taste among “five tastes” : sweet, salty, bitter, sour, or spicy. Most volunteers chose bitter taste and none of them chose sour taste as the foremost taste of shakuyaku. At least in the modern age, shakuyaku may have little sour taste. In this article we discussed the astringent action and the muscle relaxant action of shakuyaku with reference to the sour taste.

Formulation and evaluation of potash alum as deodorant lotion and after shaving astringent as cream and gel.

Potash alum has different traditional application including deodorant and astringent. In order to wide advancement in development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries we preferred to work in this field as well as for improvement of safety and efficacy of traditionally used natural products. The aim of the present study was to formulate deodorant potash alum as lotion dosage form and astringent as cream and gel dosage forms. The activity of potash alum against axillaries normal microbiota was tested in vitro using wells diffusion agar method for different concentrations (0.1% to 9%) on Mueller Hinton (MH) agar and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined as 2% and also subculture was done to determine the activity of potash alum as bacteriostatic. Alum powder has wide traditional usage as astringent to prevent bleeding from minor cuts and for its accelerated healing. Therefore, a more appropriate dosage form was designed in a suitable concentration (2% gel) to elongate its astringent activity by its higher retention time due to highly viscous nature of gel. Using suitable excipients, 2% lotion and gel were prepared by dispersion method while emulsification was used for preparation of the potash alum cream of same strength. The above formulations were evaluated by comparing their pH, viscosity, spreadability, contents uniformity and in vitro diffusion. The stability study was carried out at 25°C for 3 months and at 40°C with 75±5% RH for one month. pH, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability and consistency of the products were evaluated at the end of the studies. The results indicated no change in the formulations demonstrating their stable nature as a dosage form and suitability as a commercial product line.

Formulation and evaluation of potash alum as deodorant lotion and after shaving astringent as cream and gel.

Potash alum has different traditional application including deodorant and astringent. In order to wide advancement in development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries we preferred to work in this field as well as for improvement of safety and efficacy of traditionally used natural products. The aim of the present study was to formulate deodorant potash alum as lotion dosage form and astringent as cream and gel dosage forms. The activity of potash alum against axillaries normal microbiota was tested in vitro using wells diffusion agar method for different concentrations (0.1% to 9%) on Mueller Hinton (MH) agar and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined as 2% and also subculture was done to determine the activity of potash alum as bacteriostatic. Alum powder has wide traditional usage as astringent to prevent bleeding from minor cuts and for its accelerated healing. Therefore, a more appropriate dosage form was designed in a suitable concentration (2% gel) to elongate its astringent activity by its higher retention time due to highly viscous nature of gel. Using suitable excipients, 2% lotion and gel were prepared by dispersion method while emulsification was used for preparation of the potash alum cream of same strength. The above formulations were evaluated by comparing their pH, viscosity, spreadability, contents uniformity and in vitro diffusion. The stability study was carried out at 25°C for 3 months and at 40°C with 75±5% RH for one month. pH, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability and consistency of the products were evaluated at the end of the studies. The results indicated no change in the formulations demonstrating their stable nature as a dosage form and suitability as a commercial product line.