Puccetti Matteo, Di Michele Alessandro, Pagano Cinzia, Pecorari Elisa, Coletti Alice, Tensi Leonardo, Pariano Marilena, Pecorari Rita, Ricci Maurizio, Perioli Luana
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, via del Liceo 1 - 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Department of Physics and Geology, University of Perugia, via Pascoli, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2025 Jul 1;77(7):933-943. doi: 10.1093/jpp/rgaf024.
Griffonia simplicifolia seeds extracts, generally prepared by maceration, are most commonly used in food supplements intended for mental well-being promotion due to the high content of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP), direct serotonin precursor. As 5-HTP is involved in many different biochemical pathways, other applications of G. simplicifolia seed extracts were investigated. Considering the well-known serotonin immunomodulatory activity, the object of this study was to optimize 5-HTP yield by a new extraction procedure, exploit its immunomodulatory activity in a preclinical model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) for its responsiveness to immunomodulation, and formulate the extract in a suitable vaginal formulation.
High-power ultrasonic technique (HPU) was used for the first time to obtain an extract from Griffonia seeds (GSE-HPU). The amount of 5-HTP was measured by UHPLC-MS/MS. The extract was assessed in C57BL/6 mice model intravaginally infected with C. albicans.
The results showed that the new extraction procedure greatly increased 5-HTP yield (82.8% w/w of the extract weight); formulated in "tablets for vaginal solution" properly characterized, the GSE-HPU showed a remarkable protective activity in VVC as reduces inflammation, tissue pathology, and fungal growth.
The protective efficacy of GSE-HPU in VVC suggests its potential use in vaginal infections and associated inflammatory pathology.
