Development of Formula with Healing Activity Containing Pereskia aculeata EXTRACT FOR TOPIC USE

Abstract

Among the several plant-derived drugs with healing activities Pereskia aculeata (‘ora-pro-nobis’ is its popular name in Portuguese) is a highly promising plant since it had been used in folk medicine as a cure in inflammatory processes and burnings. A cream containing Pereskia aculeata extract has been developed and its healing activities evaluated. The Pereskia aculeata extract has been developed at concentrations 2% and 5% as a cream, and its quality control and preliminary study for stability has been undertaken. The cream’s healing activities were analyzed on rats’ cutaneous wounds. Quality control tests were satisfactory with regard to consistency and adequate aspects, characteristic color and scent, and skin compatible pH. Although cream was stable at room temperature and at 5°C, consistence was lost at 40°C. With regard to the cream’s healing activity undertaken by macroscopic analysis, the treated subjects showed better healing when compared to controls, although no significant differences existed between cream 2% and cream 5%. Under microscopic analysis the cream had a better healing activity. Cream with Pereskia aculeata extract was satisfactory except at 40ºC. When a macro and microscopic analysis of the wound was taken into consideration, cream provided an improvement in the healing process. However, further studies with a larger number of rats are required to prove that cream with Pereskia aculeata extract actually has healing activity.