Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a plant native to Europe and has been widely used as a carminative and gastric stimulant worldwide. This plant also has been used in cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component and skin conditioning agent. This study investigated the effect of peppermint oil on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. The animals were randomized into 4 groups based on different topical ap...

The purpose of this study was to investigate microemulsions as delivery systems for diclofenac sodium (DS). Microemulsion systems were composed of: soybean oil, nonionic surfactants (Brij 58 and Span 80), and different alcohols: ethanol, and 1-buthanol as cosurfactant. The optimum surfactant: cosurfactant (S:CoS) weight ratios and microemulsion areas were detected by the aid of ternary phase di...

DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) is nowadays the most effective mosquito repellent available, however, its use can present some topical and systemic side effects. Some botanical compositions, as Andiroba (Carapa guianensis), have been proved repellent properties at low cost and toxicity. An experimental study was driven involving four volunteers submitting their forearms covered with Andiro...

OBJECTIVE To examine the acaricidal effects of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract (lemongrass) and ethanolic Azadirachta indica leaf extract (neem) against house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus). METHODS Twenty-five adults mites were placed onto treated filter paper that is soaked with plant extract and b...

In this study, the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activities of hydrodistilled essential oil from Farfugium japonicum were investigated for the first time. The chemical constituents of the essential oil were further analyzed by GC-MS and included 1-undecene (22.43%), 1-nonene (19.83%), beta-caryophyllene (12.26%), alpha-copaene (3.70%), gamma-curcumene (2.86%), germacrene D (2.69%),...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the wound-healing activity of a semisolid formulation of avocado oil, SSFAO 50%, or avocado oil in natura, on incisional and excisional cutaneous wound models in Wistar rats. An additional objective was to quantify the fatty acids present in avocado oil. On the 14th day, a significant increase was observed in percentage wound contraction and reepithelializa...

Since ancient times, products from mastic tree, Pistacia lentiscus L., are known as part of the traditional pharmacopoeia of several Mediterranean countries. In the aim to know the different uses of this shrub in local traditional medicine of Constantine province (north east Algeria) a survey was conducted among herbalists and pharmacists of the region. The most widely used product of this shru...

The larvicidal activity and repellency of 5 plant essential oils--thyme oil, catnip oil, amyris oil, eucalyptus oil, and cinnamon oil--were tested against 3 mosquito species: Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti, and Culex pipiens pallens. Larvicidal activity of these essentials oils was evaluated in the laboratory against 4th instars of each of the 3 mosquito species, and amyris oil demonstrated the ...

The repellency and toxicity of mint oil to American, Periplaneta americana (L.), and German, Blattella germanica (L.), cockroaches were evaluated in a series of laboratory experiments. In topical application experiments, mint oil was toxic to both species with toxicities (LD50s) of 2.57 (1.98– 4.20) in 10 l and 3.83 (2.35–7.34)% in 2 l for American and German cockroaches, respectively. In conti...