Evaluation of herbal gel from chamomile and myrrh on Paederus dermatitis

Abstract

The genus Paederus has a world-wide distribution and comprises several hundred species and is most common during May through September in Iran. There appears to be no specific treatment for the Paederus dermatitis, thus we decided to evaluate herbal gel from chamomile and myrrh on Paederus dermatitis. Chamomile and myrrh have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity in Iranian herbal medicine, thus we selected these plants for treatment of Paederus dermatitis. Ethanolic chamomile extract and the tincture of myrrh were prepared, then different gels containing chamomile (3.5%)-myrrh (1%) and myrrh (1% and 2%) were formulated and the best formulations were selected for preliminary clinical trial study in comparison with gel base. After proving the presence of active ingredients by TLC, HPLC and GC/Mass, the physical stability was evaluated in three tempretures (4, 25 and 40°C). Apigenin was 3.61 ± 0.62 mg/g of chamomile extract and 99.31% and 95.91% of papigenin was detected in gels containing chamomile (3.5%) and chamomile (3.5%)-myrrh (1%), respectively. The results of microbial control had corresponded to pharmacopoeia criteria. The results showed that the preparation containing 1% myrrh had the fewer side effects and the most effects on treatment of Paederus dermatitis.

Keywords

• gel
• chamomile
• myrrh
• dermatitis
• paederus