Trieu Duy Diet 1 , Luong Quang Anh 2
1 Research and training centre of pharmacy - Medical military of university, Hanoi,
Vietnam
2 Department of pharmacy - National institute of burns, Hanoi, Vietnam
BACKGROUND: Plumbago Zeylanica L. (Family-Plumbaginaceae) is a valuable
Vietnamese medicinal plant widely in treatments of burn wound, skin diseases, leprosy and diarrhoea. The roots of Plumbago Zeylanica L. contains an alkaloid called plumbagin
(2-methoxy-5hydroxy-1,4naphthoquinone), which is a powerful germicide and antiinflammation. In our recent research, we have formulated gel with plumbagin content of
0,02%. Thus, in this study we have attempted to investigate some activities of plumbagin gel on experimental animals.
AIMS: Investigating the oral LD50, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, local burn treatment of plumbagin gel.
METHODS: Calculation of LD50 by peroral route in mice. Determination of antibacterial activity in vitro by the agar well diffusion method. The anti-inflammatory activity determinated by calculating percent inhibition of inflammation of average paw volumes in control and treated group in albino rats, using Hydrocortisol as standard drug for comparison. Investigating local burn treatment of plumbagin gel by experimental study in rabbits under thermal burns using Silvirin 1% (Silver sulfadiazine as active ingredient) as standard drug for comparison, from Raptakos-Brett, India.
RESULTS: The acute toxicity of plumbagin gel in mice revealed that the oral LD50 of the drug was 67,5 ± 8,7 mg/kg body weight. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus,
Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis was inhibited. The anti-inflammatory activity of plumbagin gel was equivalent to that of Hydrocortisol in albino rats. Clinical manifestation, epithelial speed and wound healing rate in area applied with plumbagin gel similar to those of Silvirin in rabbits while the amount of bacteria decreased significantly to the area applied with Silvirin.
CONCLUSIONS: The gel formulation with active ingredient (plumbagin) isolated from
Plumbago Zeylanica roots showed the high safety, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The drug which have effectiveness in local treatment in rabbits with experimental burn wounds.