Planta Med 2013; 79 - SL12
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351838

Evaluation of anti-acne activity of selected Sudanese medicinal plants

AM Muddathir 1, T Mitsunaga 2, K Yamauchi 1
  • 1United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu 501 – 1193, Japan
  • 2Department of Applied Biological science, Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Gifu University, 1 – 1 Yanagido, Gifu 501 – 1193, Japan Tel. +81 – 58 – 293 – 2920; Fax +81 – 58 – 293 – 2920

Acne vulgaris is disease related to increasing of sebum production, Propionibacterium acnes proliferation and inflammation. The methanol and 50% ethanol (v/v) extracts of 29 plant species traditionally used in Sudan for wound healing, bacterial and fungal skin infections and other diseases were tested in vitro for their potential anti-acne activity. The activities of these extracts were determined using an antibacterial assay against P. acnes, a lipase inhibitory assay, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay. Results showed that the extracts of Terminalia laxiflora Engl & Diels wood exhibited good antibacterial activity (MIC 125 µg/ml). The 50% ethanol extracts of Abrus precatorius L. seed, T. laxiflora and methanol extract of Acacia nilotica pods showed lipase inhibitory activity more than 70% at 500 µg/ml. The methanol extracts of A. nilotica (L) pods showed the best DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 1.32 µg/ml). The best extract based on comprehensive activities was T. laxiflora 50% ethanol extract with better MIC value 125 µg/ml, antioxidant activity (IC50 3.45) and lipase inhibitory activity (74.1%).

Bioassay-guided fractionation of T. laxiflora resulted in isolation of five tannin related compounds such as ellagic acid, flavogallonic acid dilactone, terchebulin and gallic acid. Terchebulin showed good antibacterial activity MIC = 125 µg/ml and MBC = 250 µg/ml. Gallic acid exhibited lipase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 149.3µM, which showed strong inhibition compared with terchebulin, IC50 260.7µM. However all compounds exhibited better or equal DPPH radical scavenging activity to (+)-catechin as positive control (IC50 8.23µM). Ellagic acid and terchebulin showed the best DPPH radical scavenging activities, IC50 4.86µM and 4.90µM respectively. This study demonstrated that terchebulin possess a potential as an anti-acne agent.

Reference:

[1] Muddathir et al. (2013)J. Wood Sci.59:73 – 79.