Characterization of the Activity of Croton tiglium Oil in Hetter's Very Heavy Phenol-Croton Oil Chemical Peels.

BACKGROUND: Croton oil (CO) is used by dermatologists and plastic surgeons in deep chemical peels. It is mixed with phenol, water, and a soap in Baker-Gordon's or Hetter's formulas. There is controversy as to whether CO or phenol is the active agent in the dermal effect of deep chemical peels. OBJECTIVE: To better clarify the role of CO in deep peels, by identification of active compounds in commercially available CO in the United States and biological effects in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on CO and a domestic pig model experiment using 3 different formulas: G1: 5% Septisol (SEP), G2: 1.6% croton oil in 35% phenol with 5% SEP, and G3: 35% phenol with 5% SEP. RESULTS: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry indicated the presence of phorbol esters. G1 was null overall. Extent of the coagulative necrosis: G2 > G3. Vascular ectasia: G2 > G3. Inflammation pattern: intense neutrophilic inflammatory band in G2 versus mild, sparse, perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrate in G3. Neocollagenesis: pronounced in G2, negligible in G3. CONCLUSION: Coagulative necrosis of the epidermis, superficial fibroblasts, and vasculature can be attributed to the action of phenol. Phorbol esters on CO could be responsible for the dense deep acute inflammation and the distinctive neocollagenesis.

Physicochemical, biological and release studies of chitosan membranes incorporated with Euphorbia umbellata fraction

Abstract Formulations containing chitosan incorporated with methanolic fraction of Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns, Euphorbiaceae, were studied aiming future applications of this new material as medicine. In order to investigate potential interactions between chitosan and the methanolic fraction (10, 50 and 100% in relation to the amount of chitosan) physicochemical characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy, density, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and colorimetry techniques. The phenolic compounds released from the chitosan membranes were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteau quantification method; antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were also studied. Increasing amounts of the methanolic fraction added to polymeric matrix produced different numbers of pores on the surface of the membranes, changes in the calorimetric, spectroscopic and crystalline properties as well as color changes, when compared to the inert membrane. These changes can be attributed to chemical interactions that occurred between the structure of the chitosan and the phenolic compounds present in the studied fraction. The matrix samples incorporated with 50 and 100% of the methanolic fraction presented different release profiles of phenolic compounds from the membranes (controlled manner) and promoted antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.