Guaiazulene and related compounds: A review of current perspective on biomedical applications.

BACKGROUND: Thousands of people worldwide pass away yearly due to neurological disorders, cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, metabolic disorders, and microbial infections. Additionally, a sizable population has also been impacted by hepatotoxicity, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and breast fissure. These ailments are likewise steadily increasing along with the increase in life expectancy. Finding innovative therapies to cure and consequently lessen the impact of these ailments is, therefore, a global concern. METHODS AND MATERIALS: All provided literature on Guaiazulene (GA) and its related compounds were searched using various electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Elsevier, Springer, ACS, CNKI, and books via the keywords Guaiazulene, Matricaria chamomilla, GA-related compounds, and Guaiazulene analogous. RESULTS: The FDA has approved the bicyclic sesquiterpene GA, commonly referred to as azulon or 1,4-dimethyl-7-isopropylazulene, as a component in cosmetic colorants. The pleiotropic health advantages of GA and related substances, especially their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, attracted a lot of research. Numerous studies have found that GA can help to manage various conditions, including bacterial infections, tumors, immunomodulation, expectorants, diuretics, diaphoresis, ulcers, dermatitis, proliferation, and gastritis. These conditions all involve lipid peroxidation and inflammatory response. In this review, we have covered the biomedical applications of GA. Moreover, we also emphasize the therapeutic potential of guaiazulene derivatives in pre-clinical and clinical settings, along with their underlying mechanism(s). CONCLUSION: GA and its related compounds exhibit therapeutic potential in several diseases. Still, it is necessary to investigate their potential in animal models for various other ailments and establish their safety profile. They might be a good candidate to advance to clinical trials.

Guaiazulene: a new treatment option for recalcitrant diaper dermatitis in NICU patients.

AIM: Based on a maternal observation, we aimed to evaluate the treatment effectiveness of guaiazulene (GA) containing local pomade in the high-risk neonates with recalcitrant diaper dermatitis (RDD). METHODS: We included 30 NICU patients of RDD, with level II-III aged between 22 and 67 days. Study group patients (n = 20) were treated with GA containing local pomade (0.05 g/100 g). Control group consisted of patients who had extended antifungal treatment. A visual scale was used to assess the response to treatment at the end of a week. Scoring was done at the beginning of the treatment, on the first, third and seventh days. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in visual scores were determined between the two groups at the initial and following days of the treatment. In study group, improvements at the first and third days of the treatment were better than those of control group. Additionally, complete recovery rate in study group was better than that in controls. CONCLUSION: Having beneficial but no adverse effects, GA containing local pomade provided rapid recovery in risky neonates with RDD, who required rapid improvement.

Evaluation of topical external medicine for 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in hamsters.

Oral ulcerative mucositis is a common and painful toxicity associated with chemotherapy for cancer. Current treatment for chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis is largely palliative, and no adequate treatment with conclusive evidence exists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effectiveness of the topical external medicines used in clinical settings, and the authors investigated the effects of 1% azulene ointment, 0.12% dexamethasone ointment, and polaprezinc-sodium alginate suspension on an animal model for oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy. Oral mucositis was induced in hamsters through a combination treatment of 5-fluorouracil and mild abrasion of the cheek pouch. Each drug was administered topically to the oral mucosa of hamsters, and the process of healing of damaged oral mucositis was examined by measuring the size of the mucositis. Azulene ointment did not reduce the size of the mucositis compared with the vaseline-treated control group. Polaprezinc-sodium alginate suspension significantly improved the recovery from 5-fluorouracil-induced damage. In contrast, local treatment with dexamethasone exacerbated the mucositis markedly. These results suggested the healing effect of polaprezinc-sodium alginate suspension and the risk of steroids to severe oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy.