ANTIMICROBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF NEW NATURAL ANTISEPTIC FORMULATION ON NON-INFECTED VENOUS LEG ULCER: PILOT STUDY

Venous leg ulcers represent a significant public health problem that will increase as the population ages. Numerous herbs and their extracts are potentially conducive to wound healing, including the ability to serve as antimicrobial, antifungal, astringent etc. The aim of the study was to establish the in-vivo antimicrobial effects of herbal hydrogel formulation DermaplantG. The major components of the DermaplantG were the extracts of Allii bulbus, Hyperici herba and extract of Calendulae flos. A total of 12 patients with non-infected venous leg ulcers were treated twice daily, for 5 weeks, with new hydrogel formulation. All ulcers showed clinical signs of contamination or colonization without signs of systemic infection. Premoistening the swab with sterile saline was considered when the surface of the wound was dry. The tip of the swab was rolled on its side in a zigzag pattern for at least one full rotation. Standard methods for isolation and identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were used. On baseline assessment, a large number of different types of bacteria were detected in all venous leg ulcers. S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were isolated from almost all controls.On baseline, mixed bacterial flora (50%) was isolated in six venous leg ulcers (five ulcers with S. aureus-P. aeruginosa and one ulcer with E.coli-Enterobacter spp-P.aeruginosa). At the end of the treatment in DermaplantG group in 8 venous ulcers were detected S. aureus (66.66%) and P. aeruginosa (16.66%), and one venous leg ulcers was detected as sterile (8.33%). The number of different types of isolated bacterial species decreased significantly (P<0.05) after the use of DermaplantG herbal preparations. Therapy in DermaplantG group was administered without any side effects.The preliminary results of this pilot study demonstrate potential antimicrobial effects of herbal therapy on non-infected venous leg ulcers

EVALUATION OF HEALING EFFECTS OF NEW HERBAL FORMULATION ON VENOUS LEG ULCER: PILOT STUDY

Venous leg ulcers represent a significant public health problem that will increase as the population ages. A wide variety of agents are available for the treatment of venous leg ulcers, including ointments and dressings. Numerous herbs and their extracts are potentially conducive to wound healing, including the ability to serve as an antimicrobial, antifungal, astringent and etc.The aim of the study was to establish the healing effects of herbal therapy on non-infected venous leg ulcers. The major components of the DermaplantG were extract of Allii bulbus, Hyperici herba and extract of Calendulae flos. In the study were included 18 patients with venous leg ulcers treated by DermaplantG herbal therapy. Our investigation focused on the five controls (baseline, 1st , 3rd, 5th 7th weeks) of the parameters changes important for ulcer healing: wound surface area and reduction of venous leg ulcer score (fibrin deposits, exudation and eczema). Within-treatment analysis showed that, following DermaplantG herbal treatment, there was a significant decrease in surface leg ulcer and venous leg ulcer score after 7th treatment week (P < 0.05). The results of this pilot study demonstrate healing and antimicrobiologic efects of herbal therapy on non-infected venous leg ulcer

Treatment of Venous Ulcers with the Herbal-Based Ointment Herbadermal (R): A Prospective Non-Randomized Pilot Study

Background: Venous ulcers (ulcus cruris venosum) are a common chronic disease that requires continuing treatment and significantly influences a patient's way of life. The therapeutic effects of the ointment Herbadermal on epithelialization and microbial flora of venous ulcers in 25 patients (10 men and 15 women) were tested over a 7-week period. The major components of the ointment are extracts of garlic, St. John's wort, and calendula. Material and Methods: The patients were over 18 years of age, with ulceration of the lower leg no longer than 2 months or recurrent ulceration during the last 6 months. The involved patients did not use any other phytomedicines or supportive therapies. Parameters were evaluated before the treatment and every 2 weeks during the period of 7 weeks. The total treatment response was evaluated on the basis of epithelialization, granulation, fibrin deposits, exudation, and edema. Results: The percentage of epithelialization was 99.1% after 7 weeks, without significant effects on the microbial flora. Conclusion: This combination of extracts can be recommended as topical treatment for wound healing because of its epithelizing, anti-erythematous, and anti-edematous properties

Interferon alpha-induced reduction in the values of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in melanoma patients

Background/Aim. Interaction between tumor cells and host’s immunoregulatory cells in creation of microenvironment that supports tumor progression is the focus of numerous investigations in recent years. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are heterogeneous population of immature dendritic cells, macrophages and granulocytes. In cancer patients, these cells accumulate in tumor microenvironment, tumor-draining lymph nodes, peripheral blood and the liver and their numbers correlate with the stage of the disease and the metastatic disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of interferon alpha on MDSCs percentage in peripheral blood of melanoma patients. Methods. The interferon treated melanoma patients were given subcutaneously interferon alpha, in optimal dose, for a period of at least 6 months before the analysis. Blood samples were collected from the melanoma patients (n = 91) and the age/sex matched healthy controls (n = 8). The following anti-human monoclonal antibodies were used for immunostaining: anti-CD15-FITC, anti-CD33-PE, anti-CD45-ECD, anti-HLA-DR PE/Cy5, anti-CD14-FITC, anti-CD16-PE and anti-CD11b-PE. Results. Comparison of myeloid-derived suppressor cells values in the stage 2 melanoma patients with and without interferon alpha therapy did not show a significant difference. When we compared the MDSCs values in the patients within stage 3 melanoma, we found a significant difference in granulocytic subset values between the interferon alpha-treated and the untreated group. Comparison of values of all suppressor cells populations between the interferon alpha-treated patients and healthy controls showed a significant increase in suppressor cells percentage in the melanoma patients. The granulocytic and total MDSCs values were significantly lower in the interferon alpha treated melanoma patients with progression in comparison with untreated patients with stable disease. Conclusion. We confirmed that interferon alpha effect in stage 3 melanoma patients was reduction in MDSCs percentage. We also found an unexpected bounce back of these suppressor cells levels, many months after the discontinuation of interferon alpha therapy