Pharmaceutics (Apr 2024)

Topical Nanoemulsions as Delivery Systems for Green Extracts of <i>Pterocaulon balansae</i> Aiming at the Treatment of Sporotrichosis

  • Bruna Medeiros-Neves,
  • Daiane Heidrich,
  • Roselena Silvestri Schuh,
  • Nathalya Tesch Brazil,
  • Flávia Nathiely Silveira Fachel,
  • Eduardo Cassel,
  • Rubem Mário Figueiró Vargas,
  • Maria Lúcia Scroferneker,
  • Gilsane Lino von Poser,
  • Letícia Scherer Koester,
  • Helder Ferreira Teixeira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16040492
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 4
p. 492

Abstract

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Coumarins are benzopyrones found in several plant genera, including Pterocaulon (Asteraceae). These compounds represent an important source of new treatments, especially as antimicrobial and antifungal agents. In this study, two coumarin-rich extracts from Pterocaulon balansae using green technologies were obtained through aqueous maceration (AE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Such extracts were incorporated into nanoemulsions (NAE and NSFE) composed of a medium-chain triglyceride oil core stabilized by phospholipids. The nanoemulsions exhibited droplet sizes between 127 and 162 nm, pH above 5.0, and viscosity of approximately 1.0 cP, properties compatible with the topical route. The coumarins permeation/retention from formulations through ear porcine skin using Franz-type diffusion cells were evaluated. Whatever the extract, coumarins were distributed in skin layers, especially in the dermis in both intact and impaired (tape stripping) skin. In addition, a significant increase in coumarins that reached up to the receptor fluid was observed for impaired skin, with increases of approximately threefold for NAE and fourfold for NSFE. Finally, antifungal activity of nanoemulsions was evaluated according to minimum inhibitory concentrations, and the values were 250 µg/mL for all strains tested. The overall results demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating P. balansae extracts into nanoemulsions and showed a potential alternative for the treatment of sporotrichosis.

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