ANTI-ACNE ACTIVITY OF LIPIDO-STEROLIC EXTRACT OF SERENOA REPENS AND HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA IN SYRIAN HAMSTER EAR MODEL

Acne vulgaris is the most commonly encountered dermatological disease of pilosebaceous unit. Androgens, which increase during puberty, stimulate the sebaceous gland to produce sebum and cause retention of keratinocytes around the sebaceous hair follicle orifice causing partial to complete blockage and leading to colonization with Propionibacterium acnes, which participates in the production of pro inflammatory mediators. For treatment of acne one of the approaches is to reduce sebum production, the main stimulus to acne; then all other pathogenic factors will diminish. A comprehensive approach combining the natural medicine with antiandrogenic activity would be fruitful area for anti-acne therapy. In this context the well documented antiandrogenic herbs like liquorice and saw palmetto were selected and screened in Syrian hamster ear model using spironolactone as standard. Topical application (3% w/v, 40 µl b.i.d), of Hydroalcoholic extract of roots of liquorice and Combination group showed a significant reduction in the area of hamster ear sebaceous glands. The present results suggest the potential for the use of liquorice for anti-acne therapy. Key words: Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn, Glycocoumarins, Lipocoumarins, Glycirin