Evaluation of wound healing effect of alginate films containin g Aloe vera ( Aloe barbadensis Miller) gel.

A new alginate dressing with Aloe vera gel was developed and used to study its cutaneous healing effect in vivo by surgical wounds in Wistar rats. The aloe-alginate film was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy, hydration rate, and calcium release. The aloe-alginate film demonstrated desirable physical and mechanical characteristics for wound dressing application. The animals were divided in three groups (n = 20): gauze bandage, alginate film, and aloe-alginate film. The histological analysis on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 22nd days after the treatment showed that the aloe-alginate films modulated the inflammatory phase and decreased the quantity of macrophages when compared to the alginate film group and the control (gauze bandage). The evaluation of collagen fibers showed a decrease in type III and increase in type I fibers on group treated with aloe-alginate film suggesting an improvement in the progression of the healing process.

Several aspects of Zingiber zerumbet: a review

Abstract Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm., Zingiberaceae, is a perennial, aromatic and tuberose plant that grows in humid locations. Also known as bitter ginger, Z. zerumbet is traditionally found throughout Asia, where it is widely used in foods, beverages and for ornamental purposes. The viscous juice present in the inflorescence of the plant is rich in surfactants and is also known as "ginger shampoo". The rhizome can be macerated in ethanol and used as a tonic and a stimulant. In Brazil Z. zerumbet is found in the Amazon region, in Taruma-mirim and Puraquequara (rural areas of Manaus, Amazon, Brazil). The main chemical compounds found in Z. zerumbet are terpenes and polyphenols. Zerumbone, a sesquiterpene, is the principal bioactive compound of Z. zerumbet and it is widely studied for its medicinal properties. The extracts and isolated metabolites of Z. zerumbet have exhibited the following properties: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, analgesic and antiviral. The National Institute of Amazon Research in Brazil is currently conducting studies using extracts from this plant to obtain compounds active in tumor models. The aim of this review is to provide a overview about the main aspects related with pharmacognosy and pharmacology of Z. zerumbet published in the literature over the last decade.

Chemical and pharmacological investigation of the stem bark of Synadenium grantii.

Based on the fact that Synadenium grantii is used in folk medicine for the treatment of peptic ulcers and inflammatory diseases, this work describes its chemical and pharmacological properties. Pharmacological investigation of the crude bark extract showed a high antioxidant activity over several scavenger systems, such as 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylenebenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)• +, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl•, O2 • - , and HOCl, as well as an enzymatic system with human myeloperoxidase and an ex vivo hemolysis system. Furthermore, the oral administration of the crude bark extract was able to reduce carrageenan-induced rat paw edema as effectively as ibuprofen. These biological activities may be associated with the presence of flavonoids and terpenes, as revealed by HPLC and NMR analyses of the crude stem bark extract. The phytochemical investigations in this study resulted in the isolation of friedelin and 3ß-friedelinol for the first time, while euphol and lanosterol were also isolated.