RESUMEN
Background: The rhizome of Languas galangal is traditionally used in Sri Lanka for the treatment of skin infections caused by fungi. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of L. galangal rhizome and to develop a topical antifungal formulation from it. Methods: The dried, powdered rhizome of L. galangal was successively extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol using Soxhlet extraction. The agar well diffusion method was used to assess the antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus nger. The antifungal activities of the extracts were compared with clotrimazole as the positive control and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the negative control. The most active hexane extract was used to prepare the cream. The antifungal activity of the formulated cream was tested. Results: The hexane extract of L. galangal rhizome powder was more effective on C. albicans and A. niger. The hexane extract of L. galangal showed the maximum zone of inhibition against C. albicans and A. niger (20.20 mm ± 0.46, 18.20 mm ± 0.46) compared to the other three extracts, while clotrimazole, which was used as a positive control, produced a larger zone of inhibition (36.10 mm ± 0.65) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the negative control, did not produce inhibitory zones. Stability testing of the formulated cream showed a stable and good appearance. Conclusions: The cream developed using the hexane extract showed in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger. Further evaluations on shelf life, stability and safety are required.
RESUMEN
This study aimed to determine the amount of energy to damage the red galangal rhizome sliced cell tissue and the amount and quality of the essential oil obtained by steam-water distillation. This study was a randomized block design, with pulsed electric field (PEF) voltage treatment starting at 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 V and without PEF and repeated three times. The results showed that the voltage between 3000 and 4000 V (E = 120-160 V/cm) or equivalent to 271.5-365.0 kJ/cm3 had damaged the red galangal rhizome slice cell tissue. The increase in yield due to PEF ranged from 13% to 73%, and there was no change in the value of the refractive index and specific gravity, but there was a change in the chemical composition of the essential oil constituents. The benefits of research with PEF treatment are the increase in yield and shorter distillation time.