Advances in Natural Products for Cutaneous Application

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2024 | Viewed by 4708

Special Issue Editors

Department of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research "Dr. Josif Pancic", Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: phytopreparations; skin semi-solids; emulsions; nanoparticles; microparticles; biocompatible excipients; medicinal plants; phytochemistry
Department of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research "Dr. Josif Pancic", Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: natural compounds; pharmacognosy; biological activity of components originated from plants; standardization of phytopharmaceuticals; development of delivery systems for topical application
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia
Interests: pharmaceutical development and herbal drug characterization; development of dermocosmetic products; microencapsulation; nanoencapsulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit your manuscript(s) to the journal Pharmaceutics for a Special Issue entitled “Advances in Natural Products for Cutaneous Application” with open access. Traditional usage of natural products for cutaneous application stretches back millennia. In recent years, there has been a growing consumer demand for natural products on the market both as cosmetic products and for the local treatment of different skin impairments. Therefore, the active ingredients of these products include natural bioactive compounds (NBCs), either as isolated substances or as mixtures in herbal preparations, such as extracts, fatty oils, essential oils, expressed juices, and processed exudates. In parallel, there is an evident increase in scientific interest in natural products for cutaneous application. The development of these products represents a research challenge, which is related to several of their specificities. Namely, aside from safety and efficacy demands, specific quality requirements should be satisfied if the active ingredient of the product for the treatment of skin disorders is herbal preparation. This is due to their compounded chemical composition, where, among other tests, identification and quantification of appropriate substances and their stability should be assessed. In addition, when the products are intended for application on the skin, aesthetical acceptability for users after usage is of great importance, and thus special attention should be paid to their satisfactory sensory characteristics. Finally, unfavorable physicochemical properties of certain natural compounds and/or herbal preparations may require specific formulation strategies aimed at improving their solubility/bioavailability.

With this Special Issue, we would like to provide readers with the latest trends in the development of natural products for dermal application with actives being NBCs, intended for the care of normal or treatment of impaired skin. Therefore, we are interested in articles related to the evaluation of such products in terms of physicochemical and/or biopharmaceutical characterization, stability, efficacy, and safety assessment, as well as investigations of their sensory (aesthetic and applicative) properties.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Topical Delivery Systems;
  • Nanoparticles and Nanotechnology;
  • Pharmaceutical Technology and Manufacturing;
  • Cosmetic products;
  • Dermal products.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ana Žugić
Dr. Vanja Tadić
Prof. Dr. Ivana Nešić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural bioactive compounds (NBCs)
  • herbal preparations
  • cosmeceuticals
  • systems for topical delivery
  • testing of skin performance
  • physico-chemical characterization/stability
  • analysis of texture
  • formulation development
  • release and permeation testing

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3184 KiB  
Article
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the LK5 Herbal Complex on LPS- and IL-4/IL-13-Stimulated HaCaT Cells and a DNCB-Induced Animal Model of Atopic Dermatitis in BALB/c Mice
by Hyun-Jeong Kim, So-Yeon Kim, Ho Jung Bae, Yu-Yeong Choi, Ju-Yeon An, Ye Eun Cho, So-Young Cho, Su-Jung Lee, Sanghyun Lee, MinSub Sin, Young Min Yun, Jong Ryul Lee and Se Jin Park
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16010040 - 27 Dec 2023
Viewed by 975
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The activation of the JAK-STAT pathway increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, further deteriorating AD. Therefore, for the treatment [...] Read more.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The activation of the JAK-STAT pathway increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, further deteriorating AD. Therefore, for the treatment of AD, the JAK-STAT pathway is emerging as a significant target, alongside inflammatory cytokines. This study investigates the potential therapeutic effects of a novel herbal complex, LK5, composed of Scutellaria baicalensis, Liriope platyphylla, Sophora flavescens, Dictammus dasycarpus, and Phellodendron schneider, known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. We examined the anti-inflammatory and anti-AD effects of the LK5 herbal complex in HaCaT cells stimulated by LPS and IL-4/IL-13, as well as in a mouse model of AD induced by DNCB. In HaCaT cells stimulated with LPS or IL-4/IL-13, the LK5 herbal complex demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and downregulating the phosphorylation of STAT proteins. In a murine AD-like model induced by DNCB, administration of the LK5 herbal complex significantly ameliorated clinical symptoms, including dermatitis, ear thickness, and TEWL. Histological analysis revealed a reduction in epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration. The LK5 herbal complex also inhibited pruritus induced by compound 48/80. Furthermore, the LK5 herbal complex treatment significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TSLP, IL-6, and IgE in plasma and ear tissue of AD-induced mice. These findings suggest that the LK5 herbal complex may modulate the immune response and alleviate AD symptoms by inhibiting STAT pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Products for Cutaneous Application)
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30 pages, 9249 KiB  
Article
Liposomal and Liposomes-Film Systems as Carriers for Bioactives from Paeonia tenuifolia L. Petals: Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Potential
by Natalija Čutović, Tatjana Marković, Tamara Carević, Dejan Stojković, Branko Bugarski and Aleksandra A. Jovanović
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(12), 2742; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15122742 - 07 Dec 2023
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Abstract
Paeonia tenuifolia L. (steppe peony) petal extract was proficiently encapsulated into liposomes and biopolymer films in the current work, both times utilizing a single-step procedure. The encapsulation efficiency, size of the particles, and index of polydispersity (PDI), as well as the ζ potential [...] Read more.
Paeonia tenuifolia L. (steppe peony) petal extract was proficiently encapsulated into liposomes and biopolymer films in the current work, both times utilizing a single-step procedure. The encapsulation efficiency, size of the particles, and index of polydispersity (PDI), as well as the ζ potential of the obtained liposomes were determined, whereas in the case of films, the test included moisture content and mechanical property assessment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to evaluate the chemical composition and existence of numerous interactions in the systems. All the obtained encapsulates were subjected to antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm activity testing of the pathogens associated with human skin. The results indicated that the liposomes prepared using Phospholipon had the highest encapsulation efficiency (72.04%), making them the most favorable ones in the release study as well. The biological assays also revealed that Phospholipon was the most beneficial phospholipid mixture for the preparation of liposomes, whereas the film containing these liposomes did not have the ability to inhibit pathogen growth, making the double encapsulation of P. tenuifolia L. petal extract needless. These findings may be a first step toward the potential use of steppe peony extract-loaded films and liposomes in pharmaceutical and cosmetical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Products for Cutaneous Application)
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16 pages, 3564 KiB  
Article
Topical Application of Siberian Pine Essential Oil Formulations Enhance Diabetic Wound Healing
by Milica Nikolic, Marijana Andjic, Jovana Bradic, Aleksandar Kocovic, Marina Tomovic, Andjela Milojevic Samanovic, Vladimir Jakovljevic, Mirjana Veselinovic, Ivan Capo, Veljko Krstonosic, Nebojsa Kladar and Anica Petrovic
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(10), 2437; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15102437 - 09 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 946
Abstract
This study aimed to develop novel topical formulations based on a natural component (0.5% of Siberian pine essential oil) and to assess its wound-healing capacity through macroscopic, histopathological, and biochemical examination. The phytochemical profile of Pinus sibirica essential oil (PSEO) and rheological analysis [...] Read more.
This study aimed to develop novel topical formulations based on a natural component (0.5% of Siberian pine essential oil) and to assess its wound-healing capacity through macroscopic, histopathological, and biochemical examination. The phytochemical profile of Pinus sibirica essential oil (PSEO) and rheological analysis and safety potential of formulations were determined. The wound-healing effect was evaluated on an excision wound model in diabetic Wistar albino rats randomly divided into the following groups topically treated with (1) untreated, (2) 1% silver sulfadiazine, (3) ointment base, (4) gel base, (5) PSEO ointment, and (6) PSEO gel. Formulations containing PSEO were stable and safe for skin application. Three weeks of treatment with both PSEO formulations (ointment and gel) led to a significant reduction in wound size (98.14% and 96.28%, respectively) and a remarkably higher level of total hydroxyproline content (9.69 µg/mg and 7.26 µg/mg dry tissue, respectively) relative to the control group (65.97%; 1.81 µg/mg dry tissue). These findings were in correlation with histopathological results. Topically applied PSEO formulations were associated with a significant reduction in most of the measured pro-oxidants and enhanced activity of the antioxidant defense system enzymes (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that gel and ointment with PSEO demonstrated significant wound-repairing capabilities in the excision wound model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Products for Cutaneous Application)
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Review

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16 pages, 1660 KiB  
Review
Biological Activity of Fermented Plant Extracts for Potential Dermal Applications
by Anna Herman and Andrzej Przemysław Herman
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(12), 2775; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15122775 - 14 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1410
Abstract
Fermented plant extracts (FPEs) are functional liquids formed as a result of the fermentation of fresh plants by microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi. The appropriate selection of plants, microorganism strains, and conditions under which the fermentation process is carried out is very important [...] Read more.
Fermented plant extracts (FPEs) are functional liquids formed as a result of the fermentation of fresh plants by microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi. The appropriate selection of plants, microorganism strains, and conditions under which the fermentation process is carried out is very important in terms of obtaining a suitable matrix of biologically active compounds with different biological properties. The purpose of this review is to provide verified data on the current knowledge acquired regarding the biological activity of FPEs for cosmetic use and dermal applications. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-melanogenic, and wound-healing activity of FPEs, as well as their potential dermal applications, will be described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Products for Cutaneous Application)
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