A novel polyherbal microbicide with inhibitory effect on bacterial, fungal and viral genital pathogens.
A polyherbal cream (Basant) has been formulated using diferuloylmethane (curcumin), purified extracts of Emblica officinalis (Amla), purified saponins from Sapindus mukorossi, Aloe vera and rose water along with pharmacopoeially approved excipients and preservatives. Basant inhibits the growth of WHO strains and clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including those resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin. It has pronounced inhibitory action against Candida glabrata, Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis isolated from women with vulvovaginal candidiasis, including three isolates resistant to azole drugs and amphotericin B. Basant displayed a high virucidal action against human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1NL4.3 in CEM-GFP reporter T and P4 (Hela-CD4-LTR-betaGal) cell lines with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 1:20000 dilution and nearly complete (98-99%) inhibition at 1:1000 dilution. It also prevented the entry of HIV-1(IIIB) virus into P4-CCR5 cells (EC50 approximately 1:2492). Two ingredients, Aloe and Amla, inhibited the transduction of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) pseudovirus in HeLa cells at concentrations far below those that are cytotoxic and those used in the formulation. Basant was found to be totally safe according to pre-clinical toxicology carried out on rabbit vagina after application for 7 consecutive days or twice daily for 3 weeks. Basant has the potential of regressing vulvovaginal candidiasis and preventing N. gonorrhoeae, HIV and HPV infections.
Talwar
G P
GP
Talwar Research Foundation, E-8, Neb Valley, Neb Sarai, New Delhi, India. gptalwar@gmail.com
Dar
Sajad A
SA
Rai
Mahendra K
MK
Reddy
K V R
KV
Mitra
Debashis
D
Kulkarni
Sujata V
SV
Doncel
Gustavo F
GF
Buck
Christopher B
CB
Schiller
John T
JT
Muralidhar
Sumathi
S
Bala
Manju
M
Agrawal
S S
SS
Bansal
Kavita
K
Verma
Jitendra K
JK
D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000187:drug effects*; D029842:Phyllanthus emblica / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D011817:Rabbits; D032127:Sapindus / Q000737:chemistry; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D003474:Curcumin