Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Alginate, Agar Films Used to Deliver Propolis into Oral Cavity

Studies from University of Sassari Describe New Findings in Drug Delivery
Pharma Investments, Ventures & Law Weekly, 11/11/2007

"… The aim of this study was to prepare some polymeric film formulations for local delivery of propolis into the oral cavity," scientists in Sassari, Italy report.

"For this purpose, a commercial propolis fluid extract and three extracts (dry, ethanolic, glyceric) obtained from raw propolis were previously characterized with regard to their polyphenolic fraction composition and their antimicrobial properties against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. Commercial fluid extract, judged the most suitable in terms of polyphenol content and antimicrobial activity, was then incorporated into alginate, alginate-chitosan and agar films, prepared using a casting-solvent evaporation technique, which were finally evaluated in terms of thickness, total polyphenol content, in vitro polyphenol release profiles, swelling behaviour and antimicrobial properties," wrote C. Juliano and colleagues, University of Sassari.

The researchers concluded: "Our results demonstrate that polymeric films can be proposed as new propolis vehicles in the treatment of dental and buccal diseases."

Juliano and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (Preparation and characterisation of polymeric films containing propolis. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 2007;17(3):177-181)…

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