Rationale of the study

Guava is a commercial fruit crop in many tropical and sub-tropical countries

of the world. The fruit is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and dietary

antioxidants. High perishability and susceptibility to physical damage, chilling

injury, diseases and insect-pests are the major postharvest constraints of guava

fruit. (Singh, 2011)[1] It also posses antibacterial activity which is proven in many

studies.

Acne is one of the most common skin diseases affecting millions of

individuals. It is estimated that about 20% of all visits to dermatologists are linked

to acne therapy. Acne also debuts during hormonal shifts in pre-teens; however, it

is also very common as an adult-onset disease, often associated with hormonal

variations during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. While life-threatening, acne

can linger for years and is known to have significant psychosocial consequences

such as decreased self-esteem, depression, anger, and social retrenchment. (Bhatia

[2]
et. Al, 2004)

Propionibacterium acnes is the most abundant bacteria on human skin,

especially in sebaceous areas. P. acnes is proposed to be an opportunistic pathogen

involved in the creation of various medical conditions. (Mollerup et.al, N.D.) [3]

Propionibacterium acnes is a gram-positive human skin commensal that prefers

anaerobic growth conditions and is involved in the pathogenesis of acne

[2]
(Kirschbaum and Kligman, 1963). Excess sebum (oil) production due to

overactive sebaceous glands or blockage of a follicle can cause this bacterium to

multiply. P. acnes releases digestive enzymes to break down sebum and acquire
nutrients, which can sometimes destabilize the cell walls in the follicle. The rapid

growth of these organisms in the follicle can trigger an immune response. (Kim,

2005) [4]

The researchers would like to conduct further research on Psidium guajava

focusing on its antibacterial activity and its effectivity against Propionibacterium

acnes. The purpose of this study is to provide an alternative treatment or more

organic way of treating Propionibacterium acnes. The methanol and ethanol

extracts of the guava leaves showed inhibitory activity against gram-positive

bacteria, whereas the gram-negative bacteria were resistant to all the solvent

extracts. Guava leaf-extract might be a good candidate in the search for a natural

[5]
antimicrobial agent (Rogers et. al, 2013) The researchers will use cream as a

dosage form in this study. Cream offers prolonged contact at the application site

compared to any other pharmaceutical semi-solid dosage type. It is also non-greasy

and easily applied and spread to the skin.

References:

1. S.P.Singh, 2011 Postharvest Biology and Technology of Tropical and

Subtropical Fruits. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978184569735850010

2. Ajay Bhatia, Ph.D., Jean-Francoise Maisonneuve, Ph.D., and David H.

Persing, M.D., Ph.D., 2004. Propionibacterium Acnes and Chronic

Diseases Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83685/

3. Sarah Mollerup, et. al, N.D. Propionibacterium acnes: Disease-Causing

Agent or Common Contaminant? Detection in Diverse Patient Samples by

Next-Generation Sequencing Retrieved from

https://jcm.asm.org/content/54/4/980

4. Kim, Jenny. "Review of the innate immune response in acne vulgaris:

activation of Toll-like receptor 2 in acne triggers inflammatory cytokine

responses." Dermatology 211.3 (2005): 193-198. Retrieved from

https://microchemlab.com/microorganisms/propionibacterium-acnes

5. Kimberly Rogers, Fredrick McLaughlin, Dwayne Daniels ,and Anand Yadav,

2013. Antimicrobial Activities of Leaf Extracts of Guava (Psidium guajava

L.) on Two Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria. Retrieved from

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijmicro/2013/746165/

6.