Daphne gnidium L. bark and leaf extracts: skin damage by topical application

Preparation and partial pharmacodynamic studies of Luliconazole ethosomes

As a drug carrier, ethosome is found to be efficient in delivering drug to the deep skin layers through stratum corneum, and the purpose of this paper was to develop luridazole ethosomes acting as an optimal choice for transdermal antifungal drug. The luliconazole ethosomes were prepared by thin-film hydration, and evaluated for morphology, size, entrapment efficiency(EE), stability and deformability. In vitro, the transdermal experiment was performed on excised rat skin by Franz diffusion cell, and minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) was applied to determine antifungal activity. In vivo, the irritation of luliconazole ethosomes was also observed in rats. The luliconazole ethosomes were prepared with 5%(w/v) lecithin, 45%(v/v) ethanol and 8-minute ultrasound, and characterized with small and uniform particle size, high EE of about 70%. These ethosomes possessing good deformability, were stable and affected by light and high temperature. The cumulative amount permeated of different dosage forms at 48h from high to low was: ethosome> ointment> liposome> hydroalcoholic solution(P<0.05), and the sum of the luliconazole retention of skin from high to low at 48h was: ethosome/ointment >liposome> hydroalcoholic solution(P<0.05). In the antifungal experiment, the MICs from high to low were: hydroalcoholic solution> liposome> ethosome(P<0.05), and Trichoderma was more sensitive to luliconazole than Candida. Besides, there was no skin irritation observed after treatment of luliconazole ethosomes. The luliconazole ethosomes are firstly prepared in our study, which have little stimulativeness, better permeation effect and antifungal activity, offering a new perspective for choosing clinical antifungal drug in department of dermatologry.

Ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Daphne gnidium: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Daphne gnidium L., (Lazaz or Metnan) is a perennial plant that grows around the Mediterranean basin, in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It is used in different countries for hair care and to treat several diseases including skin cancer, diabetes, nervous breakdowns, sinusitis, poisoning, rheumatic disorders, odontalgia, muscular pain, and gastrointestinal infections. It is also used as anti-inflammatory, insecticide, and anti-parasitic remedy.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

In this review, previous studies on D. gnidium including its botanical description, taxonomy, geographical distribution, medicinal use, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties were critically highlighted and discussed for suggesting the exploration of this specie and its bioactive compounds in medical applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on D. gnidium were gathered from Scientific search engines including PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online, SciFinder, and Google Scholar. Reports on D. gnidium written in English published before September 2020 were summarized.

RESULTS

In traditional medicine, D. gnidium is used to treat diabetes, gastrointestinal infections, skin cancer, nervous breakdowns, and sinusitis. The extracts and essential oil of D. gnidium exhibited several biological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antigenotoxic, hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, allelopathic, and insecticidal effects. Phytochemical investigations identified several chemical classes of secondary metabolites in D. gnidium essential oil and extracts including terpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, fatty acids, and alkanes.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings presented in this study showed a link between the traditional medicinal use and scientific biological results about D. gnidium. However, further investigations should be carried out to support medical and cosmetic applications of this species. Indeed, D. gnidium and its main compounds should be confirmed concerning their safety and their bioavailability. Moreover, pharmacodynamic studies should be conducted to support their efficacy in medical applications.

Antioxidant activity of extracts from plants growing in Sardinia

The present work was carried out to study the effect of some plant methanol extracts and essential oils on lipid peroxidation in simple in vitro systems. The tested extracts were obtained from four plants, commonly known in the Mediterranean area, indigenous to Sardinia: Artemisia arborescens L., Calycotome villosa L., Daphne gnidium L. or naturalized in the island, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. The activity of the extracts was investigated during both autoxidation and iron or EDTA-mediated oxidation of linoleic acid at 37 degrees C in the absence of solvent, and compared with that of BHT, alpha-tocopherol and EDTA. During linoleic acid autoxidation all the extracts were active, showing an antioxidant activity in the order: BHT >alpha- tocopherol >Daphne gnidium (methanol extract) >Eucalyptus globulus (essential oil) >Calycotome villosa (essential oil) >Artemisia arborescens (essential oil and methanol extract) >Calycotome villosa (methanol extract). None showed any prooxidant activity. During the iron-catalysed oxidation of linoleic acid the oils were not active, while all the methanol extracts showed some efficiency in preventing the oxidation process. All the extracts were also tested on cell cultures to investigate their cytotoxic activity or their ability to inhibit the growth of some pathogenic microorganisms.