Ciclopiroxolamine cream 1%: in vitro and in vivo penetration into the stratum corneum.

Studies were conducted to assess the penetration of 1% ciclopiroxolamine cream, establishing the concentrations of the antimycotic compound in different layers of the stratum corneum with two skin models. Results of in vitro studies using skin from domestic pigs indicate that ciclopiroxolamine has the ability to penetrate fast into the epidermis, by inhibiting and killing inoculated Trichophyton mentagrophytes. In vivo investigation of the stratum corneum has been performed in healthy human volunteers by 20 strippings collected in four layers. Fungicidal concentrations of ciclopiroxolamine were determined after extraction from the strippings. These studies demonstrate that the concentrations reached levels which are sufficient to inhibit and kill pathogenic fungi.

Antibacterial activity of the leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus.

The lyophilized aqueous extract (LWE) from the leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus was found to show an antibacterial activity. The alkaloid fraction obtained from LWE inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium (MIC = 1.6 mg/ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 0.78 mg/ml), Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC = 0.2 mg/ml). Among the alkaloids identified, viroallosecurinine and securinine showed a high activity. Viroallosecurinine exhibited a MIC of 0.48 micrograms/ml for Ps. aeruginosa and Staph. aureus. This alkaloid is bactericidal since the yields of MIC/MBC were less than 1. The MIC of securinine was 0.500 mg/ml for E. coli, Staph. aureus and Myc. smegmatis. These effects of Phyllanthus discoideus leaf extracts support some of the local uses of the plant in traditional therapy.