Characterization, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potentials of Tamarindus indica L. Fruit Pulp Extract Loaded O/W Nanoemulsions

Abstract The main purposes of the current study were to formulate o/w nanoemulsions as a carrier for Tamarindus indica (tamarind) fruit pulp extract and to study the antioxidant and antibacterial potentials of nanoemulsions containing tamarind extract, focusing on cosmetic/hygiene applications. The o/w nanoemulsions using a mixture of Tween 80 and Span 80 as an emulsifier (5%w/w) were prepared by a high pressure homogenization process. Two concentrations of sweet tamarind extract, 3.3 and 6.6%w/w, based on the bioactivity study, were incorporated into the blank nanoemulsions to produce loaded nanoemulsions, F1-3.3TE (3.3%) and F1- 6.6TE (6.6%). As compared with the unloaded nanoemulsion, both tamarind extract loaded nanoemulsions showed reduced pH and significantly increased viscosity. Overall, the loaded nanoemulsions had droplet sizes of approximately 130 nm, zeta potential around -38 mV and polydispersity index (PDI) values less than 0.2. The nanoemulsion F1-3.3TE had better stability (e.g. significantly greater % tartaric acid content and lesser PDI value) than the nanoemulsion F1-6.6TE did. The antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay revealed that the nanoemulsions F1-3.3TE and F1-6.6TE had scavenging activities of 81.66 ± 0.77% and 63.80 ± 0.79%, respectively. However, antioxidant activity of these two formulations decreased under stress conditions (heating-cooling cycles). Such incidence did not occur for their antibacterial properties investigated by agar well diffusion technique. The two formulations exhibited inhibition zones of approximately 24.0-27.7 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, responsible for malodor of underarms. The results suggest the potential of using sweet tamarind pulp extract loaded nanoemulsions as hygiene products.

Efficacy of An Aqueous Morinda citrifolia Fruit Extract-Phytosome Gel in Treating Oral Inflammatory Ulcer in Rabbit Model.

BACKGROUND: Oral inflammatory ulcers are one of the common complaints of patients attending out-patient clinics. Previous in vivo studies had shown that an Aqueous M. citrifolia Fruit Extract (AMFE) possessed anti-inflammatory and ulcer healing activities. Therefore, a standardized topical bioadhesive gel containing AMFE-phytosome was developed and determined for its oral ulcer healing efficacy in a rabbit model. METHODS: The AMFE phytosome (AMFE-P) was prepared by a complexation method with the required amount of AMFE: Phosphatidylcholine: Tween 80 to weigh ratio of 2:1:0.2. Poloxamer 407 was used as a gelling agent. The oral ulcer was induced in male New Zealand white rabbits by topical application of acetic acid. Each test compound was applied to the ulcer for 10 days beginning on the second day after the ulcer induction. Complete ulcer healing on the specimen obtained on day 12 was observed histologically using the histological scoring protocol. RESULTS: The optimized gel containing AMFE-P equivalent to AMFE 10%w/w (10%AMFE-P gel) showed the best bioadhesive gel quality, a smooth and homogeneous texture with an optimum viscosity and pH range used in human oral cavity, a good physical and chemical stability and the highest percentage cumulative release of total phenolic and scopoletin content. It was found that a daily application of 10% AMFE-P gel exerted a superior ulcer healing efficacy and a significantly rapid ulcer healing process than a twice daily application of topical gel containing AMFE 10%w/w or chlorhexidine 0.2%. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that 10% AMFE-P gel has potential as a safe and effective alternative therapeutic agent for oral ulcers.