Therapeutic efficacy of hydrophilic gels of α-tocopherol and tretinoin in skin ulcers induced by adriamycin hydrochloride

Abstract α-Tocopherol, tretinoin and ascorbic acid can act as biological antioxidants. Hydrophilic gels of these drugs were prepared, alone or in combination, and their therapeutic efficacy on ulcers induced by adriamycin hydrochloride in experimental animals was studied. The qualitative study considered the four phases observed and clearly defined: ulcer, scab, crater and cicatrix. The quantitative study yielded results showing statistically significant differences between the animals treated with tretinoin and those receiving α-tocopherol. Tretinoin was not shown to be effective in reducing either the size of the lesion or the time of disappearance of the acute period with respect to control; moreover, the ulcers were even larger than those of control. α-Tocopherol administered in semisolid vehicles protects the epidermal cells from free radical attack, as indicated by the reduction in lesions induced by the promoter (adriamycin hydrochloride). At the same time it may accelerate epidermal regeneration. This double activity — protection and regeneration — is potentiated by the presence of ascorbic acid in the formulations, as shown by the smaller size of the ulcers and the shorter duration of the acute effects.