Standardized ethanolic extract of the Thai herbal compress Ya-Pra-Kob: Phytochemical profiling, anti-inflammatory activity, and skin permeation potential.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Thai herbal compress Ya-Pra-Kob (YPK) has traditionally been used in Thai traditional medicine to relieve musculoskeletal pain and promote rehabilitation. However, its preparation process is time-consuming and lacks standardization.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to develop a standardized ethanolic extract of the YPK formulation and evaluate its phytochemical profile, safety, pharmacological activity, skin penetration behavior, and stability.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Active compounds in the YPK extract were characterized and standardized using validated HPLC and GC-MS methods. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were assessed using the MTT assay and Ames test, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Skin penetration was investigated using an ex vivo porcine ear skin model.

RESULTS

The optimized extract contained high levels of bioactive compounds, including phenylbutenoid derivatives and curcuminoids (0.58-3.07 mg/g extract). The extract demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, including suppression of inflammatory gene expression, with low cytotoxicity and no mutagenic effects. Skin permeation studies revealed limited transdermal absorption, with most active compounds retained within the skin layers.

CONCLUSION

The standardized YPK extract exhibits promising safety, biological activity, and skin retention properties, supporting its potential as a topical herbal ingredient. These findings provide comprehensive scientific evidence to support the modernization and integration of traditional Thai herbal compresses into healthcare applications.