This study assessed the wound healing potential and antimicrobial activity of henna, pomegranate and myrrh extract formulations and their blend in excision, and dead space wound models in rats in comparison to a marketed ointment (gentamycin). The natural extracts were used in ointment formulations alone or in a combination of three extracts at a total concentration of 15% w/w in medications. The percent of wound contraction in case of henna, myrrh, pomegranate, the blend and gentamycin (10 mg/kg) were 85.90-98.5%, 88.35-99.52%, 93.55-100%, 97.30-100%, and 90.25-100% from days 16 to 20, respectively. The blended formulation showed the highest increase in the percent of wound contraction and decrease in the epithelisation period compared to other formulations and showed comparable results to the standard ointment. The histological studies of excision biopsy at day 24 showed healed skin structures with normal epithelisation, the restoration of adnexa and fibrosis within the dermis in all of the formulation- and gentamycin-treated groups while the control group lagged behind in the formation of the amount of ground substance in the granulation tissue. The formulations showed antimicrobial activity against ,, mucous membrane infections and topical infections. The study proved the wound healing potential and antimicrobial activity of the herbal extract.

No abstract

Emulsification/internal gelation has been suggested as an alternative to extrusion/external gelation in the encapsulation of several compounds including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac sodium. The objective of the present study was a trial to formulate diclofenac sodium as controlled release microparticles that might be administered once or twice daily. This could be achieved via emulsification/internal gelation technique applying Box-Behnken design to choose these formulae. Box-Behnken design determined fifteen formulae containing specified amounts of the independent variables, which included stirring speed in rpm (X1), drug:polymer ratio (X2) and the surfactant span 80% (X3). The dependent variables studied were cumulative percent release after two hours (Y1), four hours (Y2) and eight hours (Y3). The prepared microparticles were characterized for their production yield, sizes, shapes and morphology, entrapment efficiency and Diclofenac sodium in vitro release as well. The results showed that the production yield of the prepared diclofenac sodium microparticles was found to be between 79.55% and 97.41%. The formulated microparticles exhibited acceptable drug content values that lie in the range 66.20-96.36%. Also, the data obtained revealed that increasing the mixing speed (X1) generally resulted in decreased microparticle size. In addition, scanning electron microscope images of the microparticles illustrated that the formula contains lower span concentration (1%) in combination with lower stirring speed (200 rpm) which showed wrinkled, but smooth surfaces. However, by increasing surfactant concentration, microspheres' surfaces become smoother and slightly porous. Kinetic treatment of the in vitro release from drug-loaded microparticles indicated that the zero order is the drug release mechanism for the most formulae.