International
Journal of Herbs and Pharmacological Research IJHPR, 2014, 3(3): 52 – 58.
CASE REPORT
SEVERE MITRACARPUS
SCARBER JUICE INDUCED FACIAL SKIN DISCOLOURATIONS: A CASE REPORT
1,2Nwaopara A.O., 2,3Alufohai,
P.I., 1Alufohai, D.I.; 1Nwaopara S.O.
1Anthonio Research
Center, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria; Department of 2Anatomy, and 3Phyisiology,
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding
Author: nwaoparaao@yahoo.com
Received: 14th June,
2014 Accepted: 28th July, 2014 Published: 31st July, 2014
ABSTRACT
This is a case report
on a 24-year old dark-skinned lady with incidence of facial skin discolorations
secondary to the application of Mitracarpus scaber (MS) juice for the
purpose of treating an emerging but unclassified facial skin blemishes.
Investigations showed that after several failed attempts to treat the blemishes
with two known antifungi creams, she was advised by friends to use the MS
juice. She macerated some leaves of MS between her palms to obtain its juice
and then applied it on her face. Minutes after, she experienced a burning
sensation on her face which subsequently resulted in obvious facial
discolourations 48 hours later; forcing her to stop the MS juice application. She
was then advised by friends to use a combination herbal therapy comprising
honey and Aloe vera. The combination therapy proved to be effective as the
discolorations disappeared by the 5th day from onset. Although the precise type
of skin blemish and the mechanisms associated with the observed skin
discoloration were not determined, the bioactive constituents in Mitracarpus
scaber juice may have played a major role; prompting this reminder that
self-medication must be avoided especially the use of herbal medications if
their appropriate doses have not been determined.
Key words: Facial
Skin, Discoloration, Herbal therapy, Mitracarpus scaber, Self-Medication.
INTRODUCTION
The use of medicinal
plants for the treatment of ailments is as old as human history and many drugs
have been developed either as synthetic or refined components of agents in
plants. Irrespective of the successes achieved using technology, the native
people across different geographical terrains (especially developing countries)
have indeed, continued to use herbs for the treatment of certain ailments,
either as a result of poverty or probably due to the efficacy of the herbal
products (Cordell and Colvard, 2005).
Available scientific
information suggests that the medicinal value of plants lies in some chemical
substances that produce a definite physiological action on the human body and
the most important of these bioactive constituents are alkaloids, tannins,
flavonoids, saponins, glycosides and other phenolic compounds (Rojas et al.,
1992). Amongst the myriad of therapeutic plants species, Mitracarpus scaber (coded
MISCA), is among the species applied in the treatment of various ailments (Okuo
et al., 2006; Zirihi et al., 2007). The plant family, Rubiaceae, which
parades a long list of plants of medicinal importance, has Mitracarpus
scaber “Zucc” as example (Oliver, 1959; Gill, 1992). The family consists of
about 500 genera and 6,000 species distributed all over the world with some of
them being tropical trees and shrubs (erect, struggling or twining) while few
members are herbs (erect or decumbent) (Evans, 2002).
Specifically, Mitracarpus
scaber is a perennial annual herb of about 30cm tall or much smaller and
possess rough leaves (Olorode, 1984). In Nigeria, it is known as Obuobwa in
Igbo language, Gududal in Hausa language (Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1948)
and Irawo lle in Yoruba language (Gbile, 1984). It is claimed that Mitracarpus
scaber possesses antimicrobial activities when crude extracts from the
plant are used (Gill, 1992; Benjamin et al., 1986; Irobi and Daramola, 1994).
Among the folkloric uses, the juice of the plant is applied topically for the treatment
of skin diseases (infectious der-matitis, eczema and scabies) (Dalziel, 1936;
Kerharo and Adam, 1974). Some pagan tribes use it as an ingredient in fish
poison (Joklik et al., 1984).
Previous studies reported the
isolation of pentalogin, from fresh aerial parts of Mitracarpus scaber,
which demonstrated a potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans and
Trichophytum soudanense (Moulis et al., 1992). In Senegal, the plant is
used for the treatment of sore throat and leprosy in the same way as Cola
cordifolia (Joklik et al., 1984). In Nigeria also, the juice from the
crushed plant is known to be applied topically for the treatment of skin diseases
such as ringworm, lice, itching, craw-craw and other fungi diseases; or applied
to dressings for fresh cuts, wounds and ulcers (Fluck, 1976).
There is evidence also that the
plant is an effective antifungal agent with capacity to revitalize areas of hypopigmentation
and hyperpigmentation (Van-wyk et al., 1997), while the crushed leaves can be
used as dressing for fresh cuts, wounds and ulcers (Gill, 1992). Although
several studies have been done on Mitracarpus scaber, the studies
however, did not assess the side effects (toxic effects) of the juice hence
forming the basis for this case report.
ASN-PH-020919
ISSN: 2315-537X
E-ISSN: 2384-6836
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