In Vitro and Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of Nine Antiacne Medicinal Plants

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antiacne effects of ethanolic extract nine Mediterranean medicinal plants. Most of the extracts showed no significant cytotoxic effects on human keratinocyte cell line Hacat up 250g/ml. Inula helenium (IH) and Saponaria officinalis (SO) inhibited sebum production at doses of 90g/ml and 30g/ml, respectively. SO inhibited the growth of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) 1.2 times higher than that of Chloramphenicol. IH and SO extracts significantly inhibited the LPS-induced IL-6 and the TNF-α from monocytic cell line THP-1 reaching the control levels of untreated cells at a concentration of 250g/ml. SO, IH, and Solanum nigrum (SN) extracts inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose dependent manner. Based on these results, a polyherbal cream “Acnerid” was prepared from different portions of extracts from SO, IH, and SN and its efficacy was evaluated in an open label clinical study. Results obtained from 21 acne patients, ages 18-24, indicate that the Acnerid has unique synergistic effects that halt sebum production, combined with highly antiseptic and anti-inflammatory activity, in which 60% of acne inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions almost disappeared after six weeks of application. Therefore, Acnerid represent an interesting an alternative treatment for acne.