ACNE
Acne Vulgaris is a common skin condition, caused by changes in pilosebaceous units, skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland, via androgen stimulation. It is characterized by non-inflammatory follicular papules or comedones and by inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules in its more severe forms. Acne Vulgaris affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles; these areas include the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back. Severe acne is inflammatory, but acne can also manifest in non-inflammatory forms. Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, blemishes, spots, zits, or simply acne.
Acne Vulgaris is the known as the most common skin problem in the United States. There are approximately 50 million people in the US that have this skin condition. Acne is a condition that does not discriminate due to age or sex. This condition normally affect teenagers and young adults more often. About 85% of American teenagers have acne.
Acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles. Hyperkeratinization and formation of a plug of keratin and sebum (a microcomedo) is the earliest change. Enlargement of sebaceous glands and an increase in sebum production occur with increased androgen (DHEA-S) production at adrenarche. The microcomedo may enlarge to form an open comedone (blackhead) or closed comedone (whitehead). Whiteheads are the direct result of skin pores becoming clogged with sebum, a naturally occurring oil, and dead skin cells. In these conditions the naturally occurring largely commensal bacteria Propionibacterium acnes can cause inflammation, leading to inflammatory lesions (papules, infected pustules, or nodules) in the dermis around the microcomedo or comedone, which results in redness and may result in scarring or hyper pigmentation. P. acnes are an anaerobic bacterium that cause of acne vulgaris.
Acne is known to be partly hereditary. Several factors are known to be linked to acne: Family/Genetic Histroy; hormonal activity such a puberty and menstrual cycles; Inflammation, skin irritation or scratching; stress; hyperactive sebaceous glands; Bacteria; Steroid use; Chronic use of amphetamines; and chemical compound such as Chlorinated dioxins.
BP1508
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BP1508 is an extract that was fully characterized for antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activity. PhytoPharmacon as conducted field studies for 2 years with reproducible results and have supplied BP1508 in gram quantities to the cosmetic industry. Chemical extraction, enrichment and identification of the lead marker compounds have been standardized. BP1508, a Standardized extract of a plant that is highly enriched in active ingredients that interfere with acne pathogenesis. The plant belongs to the family Labiatae (Mint family, synonym include species of Lavandula) grown locally in North Carolina.
The historical and traditional use of the plant is edible and have a long history of human usage as vegetable. The juice of the fresh leaves is credited with cooling properties and is used to relieve urticaria associated with liver disorders and other allergic manifestations. The essential oil from leaves possesses direct muscle-relaxant action and also bactericidal and fungicidal properties. The oil exhibits anti-histaminic property in vitro on the smooth muscles of both the uterus and the intestines.
PhytoPharmacon has developed the technology for the manufacturing of BP1508. The plant is cultivated under standardized agronomic conditions. The mature plant is harvested dried, comminuted into a coarse powder and extracted with a solvent by the standardized methods. The solvent is removed and the material is ground into a fine powder for formulation.
BP1508
PhytoPharmacon offers following services in support of this product and its manufacturing technology:
- Documents containing full details of the plant and its cultivation, preparation of the extract, and data on the efficacy and safety of the product.
- Technology package that includes, the logistics of cultivation and processing.
Biological Standardization: Two different in vitro biological assays, antimicrobial activity and prolific antioxidant prop-erties have been used to standardize the product.
Antimicrobial assay: The growth inhibition of microbes by quantitative methods such as electronic counter and by indirect measure through incorporation of chromogenic dye to determine viable cells were used. Mostly MTS (Tetrazolium salt) assay that is rapid and convenient to determine viable cells was used. After incubating cells with MTS, the soluble formazan is read at 490 nm on a plate reader (Ref. Cory, A.H. et al. 1991. Cancer Commun. 3:207). The antimicrobial results are expressed as MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration; Table 1, and Figures 1 and 2).
ORAC assay: Antioxidant capability by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) was determined using standard procedure. Results are compared with Trolox®, (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetrametmethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid) a water soluble vitamin E analog and ORAC results are expressed as Trolox® equivalents. ORAC values are calculated using the regression equation between Trolox concentration and the net AUC and are expressed as micromole Trolox equivalents per gram of sample.
Table 1. Antimicrobial properties of B1508
Microbes |
MIC (μg/ml) |
S.aureus |
0.78 |
MRSA |
7.0 |
E.coli |
30 |
Klebsiella pneumoniae |
30 |
Candida. albicans |
no activity |
C. kefer |
no activity |
Aspergillus flavus |
no activity |
Antioxidant (ORAC) |
4996μM Trolox/gram sample |
BP1508
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Fig. 1. BP1508 was tested against Methycelline resistant and S. aureus (MRSA) at concentrations ranging from 1mg/ml up to 125μg/ml. Percent inhibition remained high (100-75%) until dosage was lowered to 1μg/ml where it dropped to 11%.
Fig. 2. BP1508 was tested against S.aureus at concentrations ranging from 1μg/ml up to 125 μg/ml. Percent inhibition remained high (100%) until dosage was lowered to 1μg/ml where it dropped to 32%
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Fig.3 Various concentrations of ROS generator AAPH were incubated with sodium fluorescein in solution to get calculations for the AUC (area under curve) for BP1508.
Fig.4. The ORAC of BP1508 as measured and their Net AUC plotted against their concentration to get the Trolox Equivalence (Teq) for the sample.