The presence of 19 polyphenolic compounds was simultaneously assessed through a HPLC method in the buds of three species: Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, and Corylus avellana. The pattern of phenol carboxylic acids indicates that compounds like gentisic acid, sinapic acid, and the esters of tartaric acid (cichoric acid, caftaric acid) do not exist in buds, although they have been detected in mature organs. Buds only contain esters of quinic acid. Ferulic acid is a common compound in buds, being observed in all genus investigated. In the case of the flavonoid profile, young tissues of Alnus sp. and Corylus avellana only contain glycosides of quercetin. The preferred sugar for glycosylation is galactose, as the major flavonoid glycoside is in all cases hyperoside. The buds of A. glutinosa display the highest content in phenol carboxylic acids; this situation justifies their main prescription in the treatment of hepatic disorders.Polyphenolic compounds constitute one of the largest, most widespread and functionally important groups of secondary plant metabolites. Presently they are divided into several classes: phenol carboxylic acids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, anthranoids, and lignans [1]. In recent years, these substances, and flavonoids in particular, have attracted great interest due to their antioxidative capacity, which confers on them a valuable therapeutic potential in treating a large array of free-radical mediated diseases [2].The numerous health benefits of polyphenols promoted a wide-scale investigation of their presence in plant products. However, in the case of buds (gemmae), pharmacognostic researches have only been undertaken to a small extent. Recent histochemical tests revealed the presence of three types of polyphenolic compounds in buds, differing in what their intracellular localization is concerned: granular polyphenols, vacuolar polyphenols, and drop-like polyphenols [3].The present study was aimed at bringing new data on the polyphenolic profile of Alnus and Corylus buds, closely related from a phylogenic point of view. These buds are important gemmotherapeutic remedies, prescribed in hepatic, respiratory, circulatory, and inflammatory disorders [4]. However, data on their chemical composition are lacking as until the present, phytochemical studies have only been performed on barks, roots and root exudates, leaves, fruits, and seeds of Alnus sp. and Corylus avellana [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Beyond giving information on the composition of these buds, the present research is also expected to give clues regarding the ontogenic dynamics of polyphenols in the two mentioned genus, and to create the base for a scientific and rational therapeutic utilization of these buds. Our investigations employed, after adaptation, a previously developed HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of phenolic compounds [11,12].Nineteen polyphenolic compounds have been researched in the foliar buds of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Alnus incana (L.) Moench, and Corylus avellana L. The substances were: one hydro...

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Biocompatible gel microemulsions containing natural origin excipients are promising nanocarrier systems for the safe and effective topical application of hydrophobic drugs, including antifungals. Recently, to improve fluconazole skin permeation, tolerability and therapeutic efficacy, we developed topical biocompatible microemulsions based on cinnamon, oregano or clove essential oil (CIN, ORG or CLV) as the oil phase and sucrose laurate (D1216) or sucrose palmitate (D1616) as surfactants, excipients also possessing intrinsic antifungal activity. To follow up this research, this study aimed to improve the adhesiveness of respective fluconazole microemulsions using chitosan (a biopolymer with intrinsic antifungal activity) as gellator and to evaluate the formulation variables’ effect (composition and concentration of essential oil, sucrose ester structure) on the gel microemulsions’ (MEGELs) properties. All MEGELs were evaluated for drug content, pH, rheological behavior, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release and skin permeation and antifungal activity. The results showed that formulation variables determined distinctive changes in the MEGELs’ properties, which were nevertheless in accordance with official requirements for semisolid preparations. The highest flux and release rate values and large diameters of the fungal growth inhibition zone were produced by formulations MEGEL-FZ-D1616-CIN 10%, MEGEL-FZ-D1216-CIN 10% and MEGEL-FZ-D1616-ORG 10%. In conclusion, these MEGELs were demonstrated to be effective platforms for fluconazole topical delivery.

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