RESUMEN
Our work was to develop an ointment and a lotion from the fruit juice of Alchornea cordifolia for the treatment of dermatophytes. The juice from the cold pressing of the fruit pulp of A. cordifolia was lyophilized. The ointments and lotions obtained from the lyophilizate have been evaluated in vitro on different Trichophyton species (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton soudanense, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes) according to two techniques, incorporation and direct connection. In vivo tests on white mice were performed after T. mentagrophytes infestation on scarified skin parts. The reference substance was griseofulvin. The 125 mg/ml lyophilizate solution of the fruit pulp showed an activity identical to that of the 125 mg/ml solution of griseofulvin. The lotions were made with ethanol at different degrees and at concentrations of 1/50 and 1/100. Ointments at different concentrations of the lyophilizate (20%, 33%, and 50%) were made with different types of excipients. All lotions and ointments showed in vitro antifungal activity identical to that of griseofulvin up to 16 and 30 days of incubation. The ointments showed better in vivo activity compared to lotions, and the 50% vaseline-based ointment revealed an activity identical to that of griseofulvin, with a healing time of 8 days. The lyophilizate of A. cordifolia fruit juice was formulated as an ointment and lotion, maintained a good antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo on Trichophyton species, compared to griseofulvin.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Phyllanthus amarus (Schum & Thonn), a plant belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae is used in Ivorian traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension. However, although this plant has been described as a diuretic agent, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism action of diuretic effects of an ethanolic fraction of Phyllanthus amarus (EFPA) in rats. METHODS: Effects of EFPA on urinary excretion were carried out for doses ranging from 5 to 80 mg/kg given by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and compared with that induced by furosemide (5 mg/kg) after 8 h. Thereafter, the diuretic activity of EFPA was also evaluated in the presence of indomethacin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) in order to determine the involvement of prostaglandins, after 24 h. RESULTS: Between 5 and 80 mg/kg, EFPA induced a significant urinary excretion. The profile of urinary excretion showed that after 2 h, the highest dose of 80 mg/kg induced a urinary volumetric excretion (UVE), which was similar to that induced by furosemide. After 24 h, EFPA at 10 mg/kg increased significantly UVE, Na+ (43 mEq) and Cl¯ (97 mEq) urinary excretions without promoting kaliuresis. In rats pretreated with indomethacin, the urinary excretion and the natriuretic response of EFPA were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: Altogether, this study has shown that EFPA promotes a significant urinary excretion of water and Na+, confirming its diuretic activity. Moreover, the increased diuresis could be attributed, at least in part, to the involvement of prostaglandins.