Efficacy and safety of topical Trikatu preparation in, relieving mosquito bite reactions: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Complementary therapies in medicine 2014-02, Vol.22 (1), p.34-39
• Main Authors: Maenthaisong, Ratree, Chaiyakunapruk, Nathorn, Tiyaboonchai, Waree, Tawatsin, Apiwat, Rojanawiwat, Archawin, Thavara, Usavadee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aedes; Alkenes - adverse effects; Alkenes - therapeutic use; Animals; Clinical medicine; Clinical trials; Erythema - drug therapy; Ethanol; Eucalyptus oil; Female; Humans; Ingredients; Insect bites; Insect Bites and Stings - drug therapy; Insect Bites and Stings - epidemiology; Insect Bites and Stings - physiopathology; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical Education; Medical research; Mosquito bite; Mosquito bite symptoms; Mosquitoes; Pain; Papule size reduction; Piperidines - adverse effects; Piperidines - therapeutic use; Plant Extracts - adverse effects; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Pruritus - drug therapy; Studies; Substance abuse treatment; Trikatu preparation
• ISSN: 0965-2299; 1873-6963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2013.08.014

Summary Introduction Trikatu is composed of dried fruits of Piper nigrum L and Piper retrofractum Vahl, and dried rhizomes of Zingiber officinale R. Although this preparation has been used to relieve pruritis, pain, and inflammation for a long time, there is no clinical evidence to confirm its efficacy and safety. Therefore, we performed a double-blind, within person-randomized controlled study of 30 healthy volunteers to determine efficacy and safety of topical Trikatu on mosquito bite reactions. Methods All subjects were bitten by Aedes aegypti laboratory mosquitoes on their forearms and they were randomly assigned arms to apply either Trikatu or reference product on the mosquito bite papule. The main outcome was the difference of papule size reduction at 30 min, measured by a caliper, between the Trikatu and reference arms. Pruritis, redness, pain, and patient satisfaction were assessed at 15, 30, 60, 180, and 360 min as secondary outcomes. Results There were no significant differences between treatment and reference arms on any outcome at any time of measurement. Conclusion Trikatu did not show additional effects for relieving mosquito bite reaction as compared with the reference product containing camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus. For further study, it is very important to consider a proper selection of subjects, comparator product, and concentration of extract when Trikatu preparation is investigated.