RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Skin infections were the most frequently encountered of all infections and the 4th leading cause of nonfatal disease burden. Topical drugs have been used for the management of skin infections. The growing concern of drug resistance to the topical agents has warned the need for continuous development of novel drug. Essential oils are the best candidate for new drug with different mode of action and target as they are rich in chemical constituents. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and develop safe and effective topical antimicrobial formulations from essential oil of Cymbopogon martini. Method. Essential oil was extracted using hydrodistillation aerial part C. martini and topical formulations were prepared in five different semisolid bases. In vitro antimicrobial investigations were performed on essential oil and topical formulations. Skin sensitizations of the formulations were evaluated using guinea pig maximization. RESULTS: The essential oil of C. martini has shown broad-spectrum antimicrobial potency against all tested organisms with MIC value ranging from 0.65 to 10 µg/ml. Absolute inhibitions of growth of fungi were observed against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum at concentrations above 1% of oil and against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton verrucosum at a concentration of 4% oil. Among topical formulations, the highest antimicrobial activity was recorded in hydrophilic ointment followed by macrogol blend ointment. The antimicrobial activity of oil was higher in fungal pathogen compared to bacteria. Gram positive bacteria were more sensitive than gram negative bacteria. Hydrophilic and macrogol blend ointment containing 5% oil did not produce any skin sensitization on guinea pigs. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, topical formulations of C. martini essential oil can be alternative topical agents with safe broad-spectrum activity for the treatment of skin disorder. Further studies should focus on shelf life study and clinical study of the product.
RESUMO
Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. is a medicinal plant that has been used for the treatment of different ailments such as hypertension and diabetes in Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the diuretic activity of the aqueous crude extract and hot tea infusion of M. stenopetala leaves in saline-loaded rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into ten groups (n = 5). The control group received distilled water (5 mL/kg), whereas the reference group received Furosemide (10 mg/kg). Groups III-X orally received different doses of aqueous crude extract (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) and hot tea infusion (1, 2, 4, and 6 teaspoons [Tsp]) based on community use. Urine volume was recorded every hour until the end of the 5th hour, and total urine volume of each animal was calculated. The diuretic activity and diuretic action were determined based on the urine output. Additionally, concentration of urinary sodium, chloride, and potassium ions was determined. The urinary Na+/K+ ratio and carbonyl anhydrase activity (Cl-/(Na+/K+)) were also assessed. The findings verified that the aqueous crude extract as well as the hot tea infusion of the leaves of M. stenopetala possesses significant (P < 0.01) diuretic, natriuretic, and kaliuretic effects. The aqueous crude extract (125 mg/kg) and hot tea infusion (2 Tsp) displayed the highest diuretic activity (101% and 96%, respectively) comparable to the reference drug, Furosemide (10 mg/kg). They also displayed a good natriuretic activity. The aqueous crude extract and hot tea infusion revealed a significant Na+ urinary excretion (P < 0.001) and Na+/K+ ratio (P < 0.05) at all test doses. There was also a significant (P < 0.01) Cl- urinary excretion at all test doses of aqueous crude extract except 62.5 mg/kg and all test doses of hot tea infusion except higher doses (4 and 6 Tsp). Thus, the aqueous crude extract as well as the hot tea infusion of the leaves of M. stenopetala causes a plausible increase in the urine volume and concentration of urinary electrolytes in rats.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Malaria is one of the major obstacles to the socioeconomic development of several developing countries. Adequate treatment of the disease is becoming increasingly difficult due to the worsening problems of drug resistance in many parts of the world. Therefore, increased efforts in antimalarial drug discovery are urgently needed. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the antimalarial activity of the leaf latex of Aloe citrina Carter and Brandham and its major constituent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The leaf latex of A. citrina was dissolved in methanol and subjected to preparative thin layer chromatography. Structure of the isolated compound was determined on the basis of its electrospray-ionization tandem mass spectrometry, (1)H, (13)C NMR and DEPT spectral data. The latex and its isolated compound were tested for their in vivo antimalarial activity using a 4-day suppressive test against chloroquine sensitive ANKA strain of Plasmodium berghei in mice. RESULTS: Homonataloin A/B was isolated as a major component of the latex. Both the latex and isolated compound exhibited significant (P < 0.001) antimalarial activity at a dose of 400 mg/kg with parasite suppression of 60.59% and 67.52%, respectively. No significant adverse signs of toxicity were observed in mice treated with the leaf latex up to the highest dose (5000 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the antimalarial activity of the plant is attributed in part or in full to the presence of homonataloin A/B in the latex. It also validates the traditional use of the plant as an antimalarial agent.
