METHOD: Rosmarinic acid was isolated by bioactivity-guided isolation from butanolic fraction of Punica granatum and acute toxicity of rosmarinic acid was carried out. The experiment was conducted at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritic rats. Various parameters, that is arthritic score, paw volume, thickness of paw, hematological, antioxidant and inflammatory parameters such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also estimated.
RESULTS: Rosmarinic acid significantly decreased the arthritic score, paw volume, joint diameter, white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It also significantly increased body weight, hemoglobin and red blood cells. The significantly decreased levels of TNF-α were observed in treated groups as compared to arthritic control rats (P
OBJECTIVES: Biofilms, which are made mostly of the matrix can be thought of as communities of microbes that are more virulent and more difficult to eradicate as compared to their planktonic counterparts. Currently, several formulations are available in the market which have the potential to treat biofilm-assisted skin disorders. However, the existing pharmacotherapies are not competent enough to cure them effectively and entirely, in several cases.
KEY FINDINGS: Especially with the rising resistance towards antibiotics, it has become particularly challenging to ameliorate these disorders completely. The new approaches are being used to combat biofilm-associated skin disorders, some of them being photodynamic therapy, nanotherapies, and the use of novel drug delivery systems. The focus of attention, however, is nanotherapy. Micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, quatsomes, and many others are being considered to find a better solution for the biofilm-associated skin disorders.
SIGNIFICANCE: This review is an attempt to give a perspective on these new approaches for treating bacterial biofilms associated with skin disorders.