Comparative Study of Liposomal and Ethosomal Formulations of Curcuma heyneana Rhizome Extract in a Transdermal Delivery System

AIM

This study aimed to develop an anti-aging nanoformulation with Curcuma heyneana extract as bioactive substance.

BACKGROUND

Curcuma heyneana Valeton & Zipj extract has been proven in previous research to have antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties, which makes it a potential bioactive material for anti-ageing and sunscreen cosmetic products. Phytoantioxidants need to penetrate into deeper skin layers to ensure effectivity. Thus, a transdermal delivery system is needed to deliver the extract to a deeper skin layer.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to compare the permeability and anti-ageing activity of liposomal and ethosomal formulations of C. heynena rhizome ethanolic extract.

METHODS

In this study, C. heyneana extract was loaded into a phospholipid vesicular system in the form of liposome and ethosome formulations using the ethanolic injection method. The anti-ageing activity was assessed by analyzing the epidermal thickness, number of sunburn cells, distance between collagen fibres, and number of fibroblasts. While the histologic specimen scoring was carried out for the in vivo penetration study.

RESULTS

The ethosomal formulation had been found to have better penetration ability since it was able to reach the lower dermis area compared to the liposomes, which only reached the upper dermis. The ethosomal formulation of C. heyneana extract exhibited a better anti-ageing activity based on the parameters of epidermal thickness, sunburn cell count, fibroblast count, and the distance between collagen fibres in rat skin histology.

CONCLUSION

Ethosomes have been found to be a more proficient carrier system for transdermal delivery of C. heyneana extract compared to liposomes. Meanwhile, their penetration correlated with the effectivity of the formulation, suggesting that the vesicular system enhanced the penetration ability of the extract.

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Ginger Essential Oils

Ginger is a rhizomatous perennial herb that grows abundantly in tropical areas. It has been used around the world as a spice, flavoring agent, and ingredient in traditional medicine. Ginger essential oils (GEOs) are derivatives of ginger that can be found in various products used in daily life, such as food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics. The present study analyzed the chemical compositions, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of three commercially available GEOs. The compositions of GEOs were identified using the gas chromatography method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis- (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay methods. The antibacterial activity was determined using a disc diffusion assay based on the diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ). The main compounds identified from the samples were zingiberene, α-curcumene, β-sesquiphellandrene, camphene, α-farnesene, β-bisabolene, α-pinene, and 3-carene. The IC50 values were found to be 5.3023 and 1.4504 mg/mL for GEO1; 0.9249 and 0.5276 mg/mL for GEO2; and 10.4463 and 3.3535 mg/mL for GEO3 when evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assay methods, respectively. All samples showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 13420 and Bacillus subtilis (collection of Indonesian Institute of Sciences), while only GEO2 and 3 displayed inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli ATCC 9637.

Cembranoids of Soft Corals: Recent Updates and Their Biological Activities

Soft corals are well-known as excellent sources of marine-derived natural products. Among them, members of the genera Sarcophyton, Sinularia, and Lobophytum are especially attractive targets for marine natural product research. In this review, we reported the marine-derived natural products called cembranoids isolated from soft corals, including the genera Sarcophyton, Sinularia, and Lobophytum. Here, we reviewed 72 reports published between 2016 and 2020, comprising 360 compounds, of which 260 are new compounds and 100 are previously known compounds with newly recognized activities. The novelty of the organic molecules and their relevant biological activities, delivered by the year of publication, are presented. Among the genera presented in this report, Sarcophyton spp. produce the most cembranoid diterpenes; thus, they are considered as the most important soft corals for marine natural product research. Cembranoids display diverse biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory. As cembranoids have been credited with a broad range of biological activities, they present a huge potential for the development of various drugs with potential health and ecological benefits.

Chemical Diversity and Biological Activity of Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Indonesian Marine Invertebrates

Marine invertebrates have been reported to be an excellent resource of many novel bioactive compounds. Studies reported that Indonesia has remarkable yet underexplored marine natural products, with a high chemical diversity and a broad spectrum of biological activities. This review discusses recent updates on the exploration of marine natural products from Indonesian marine invertebrates (i.e., sponges, tunicates, and soft corals) throughout 2007-2020. This paper summarizes the structural diversity and biological function of the bioactive compounds isolated from Indonesian marine invertebrates as antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and antiviral, while also presenting the opportunity for further investigation of novel compounds derived from Indonesian marine invertebrates.