title: Dermatoprotective effects of some plant extracts (genus Ficus) against experimentally induced toxicological insults in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Present study was conducted to evaluate the dermatoprotective effects of plant extracts (Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, and Ficus racemosa) against known irritants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), atrazine, and petrol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in adult male rabbits. Ethanol extracts of plants were obtained through Soxhlet. All irritants and Ficus extracts were topically applied to the backs of rabbits daily for 4 days, while pure ethanol served as control. Skin was examined after 24, 48, and 96 h for erythema. Skin biopsies were taken on 5th day for microscopic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Erythema produced by irritants reduced significantly with the simultaneous application of Ficus extracts. The mean ± SEM epidermal thickness (micrometer) with SDS was 45.40 ± 1.89, F. religiosa + SDS was 18.60 ± 0.51, F. benghalensis + SDS was 18.40 ± 0.25, F. racemosa + SDS was 18.80 ± 0.37, and mixture of three Ficus species + SDS was 16.80 ± 0.37. Similar findings were revealed after using plant extracts with atrazine and petrol. The mean ± SEM epidermal layer count for SDS was 3.60 ± 0.25, atrazine was 3.40 ± 0.25, petrol was 3.40 ± 0.25, and ethanol (control) was 1.00 ± 0.20. This count reduced to 1.20 ± 0.20 for three Ficus species + SDS, 1.40 ± 0.25 for Ficus species + atrazine, and 1.40 ± 0.25 for Ficus species + petrol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ficus species demonstrated the potential to block the dermatotoxic effects of topical irritants and could be used successfully to prevent skin toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muzzamil
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Faqir
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ijaz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Kashif
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Saleemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tanweer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Sub campus Jhang, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mian Muhammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Awais
authors.affiliation: Poultry Research Institute, Office of Deputy District Livestock Officer (Poultry), Faisalabad, Pakistan faqirmuhammad33@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad Irfan
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Anwar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity; D003885:Dermotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D004890:Erythema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D005742:Gasoline / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003885:Dermotoxins; D005742:Gasoline; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D001280:Atrazine
keywords: Dermatoprotective effects; Ficus plant; skin irritants