In a recent study published in Pharmaceutics, researchers determined the antimicrobial efficacy of a plant-derived formula called FRO against pimples pathogenesis.

The antimicrobial assessment and in vitro evaluation revealed that FRO had significant antimicrobial and anti inflammatory effects against Cutibacterium acnes (CA), the bacterium liable for pimples. These findings support the usage of a non-toxic and cost-effective alternative to current pimples medications by demonstrating its secure and natural application in cosmetic pimples therapy.

Study: Efficacy of FRO on Pimples Vulgaris Pathogenesis. Image Credit: Recent Africa / Shutterstock.com

What’s pimples?

Pimples vulgaris, which is colloquially known as pimples, is a typical skin condition that happens because of the plugging of hair follicles with sebum and dead skin cells. Pimples affects greater than 80% of adolescents and, while not lethal, will be mentally distressing and cause everlasting skin pigmentation and scarring in severe cases.

Pimples is brought on by an interplay of genetic and environmental aspects and is mostly triggered by hormonal changes accompanying sexual maturation during adolescence. These hormonal imbalances can increase sebum production, in addition to upregulate insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) activities.

Increased sebum production is taken into account step one in pimples, as sebum-saturated hair follicles host quite a few microorganisms like CA. CA is a natural skin commensal; nonetheless, the increased proliferation of its phylotype IA1 causes inflammation and follicular pigmentation, which is externally observable as pimples.

Quite a few cosmetic treatments for pimples exist, comparable to retinoid and topical microbial agents utilized in tandem with chemical peeling, laser/light therapy, and hormonal agents. Nevertheless, these treatments are relatively expensive and related to hostile uncomfortable side effects.

Previous studies have investigated plant extracts as cost-effective and natural alternatives to those treatments. Extracts from Rhus verniciflua (RV), a lacquer tree, have been studied as one such alternative; nonetheless, its use has been limited by urushiol, which is a key component of this tree that’s allergenic.

In regards to the study

FRO is a plant-derived formula comprising a 1:1 ratio of fermentation of RV (FRV) and Orostachys japonicus (OJ) extracts. The formula’s efficacy was tested through in vitro evaluation and antimicrobial characterization.

The FRO mixture was first characterised using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to separate, discover, and quantify its constituents. The mixture’s total phenolic content (TPC) was further assayed to disclose compounds more than likely to have antimicrobial properties.

Preliminary in vitro antimicrobial assays were conducted through disc diffusion susceptibility evaluation. CA (phylotype IA1) was first uniformly cultured on an agar plate, upon which 10 mm diameter FRO-soaked filter paper discs were placed. Antimicrobial activity was estimated by measuring the scale of the zone of inhibition.

The efficacy of FRO on CA-inducted sebum production and DHT-associated androgen hormone spikes were evaluated using oil-red-staining and Western blot evaluation, respectively. Subsequently, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) probes were used to check the power of FRO to neutralize the consequences of reactive oxygen species (ROS), that are liable for acne-associated hyperpigmentation and post-condition scarring.

FRO is effective against pimples

The disc diffusion experiment results indicated that 20 μL FRO successfully suppressed CA growth, producing distinct 13 mm inhibition zones at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. FRO significantly suppressed CA-induced increases in sebum production, thereby slowing or reversing pimples onset.

FRO was found to be wealthy in phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and fisetin. The concentration of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) averaged 118.2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs) for each gram of FRO.

FRO significantly reduced cell inflammation brought on by CA-induced ROS and cytokine release. The long-term reduction of ROS production would likely reduce hyperpigmentation and scarring.

Conclusions

While dermatological treatments for pimples exist already, these treatments are sometimes expensive and should be related to various unwanted uncomfortable side effects.

The study findings exhibit that FRO exhibits antimicrobial properties against CA, the bacterium liable for pimples development, thus indicating that FRO is a natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective alternative to standard pimples therapy. FRO also reduced sebum production and hormone expression in vitro, thereby demonstrating its effectiveness in each treating and stopping pimples onset.

Previous clinical trials on FRO have shown that individuals using FRO-enhanced face toner and lotions exhibited significantly improved skin elasticity and moisture levels as in comparison with controls after only six weeks. While that study lacked pimples evaluation inside a controlled in vitro setting, the present study findings corroborate their results.

Taken together, these results support the long run application of FRO in cosmetic therapy, each in treating pimples and improving overall skin health.