Nodulocystic acne: oral gugulipid versus tetracycline

J Dermatol. 1994 Oct;21(10):729-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1994.tb03277.x.

Abstract

Twenty patients with nodulocystic acne were randomly allocated to one of two treatment schedules: 1) Tetracycline 500 mg or 2) Tab. Gugulipid (equivalent to 25 mg guggulsterone). Both were taken twice daily for 3 months, and both produced a progressive reduction in the lesions in the majority of patients. With tetracycline, the percentage reduction in the inflammatory lesions was 65.2% as compared to 68% with gugulipid; on comparison, this difference was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Follow-up at 3 months showed a relapse in 4 cases on tetracyline and 2 cases on gugulipid. An interesting observation was that the patients with oily faces responded remarkably better to gugulipid.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acne Vulgaris / drug therapy*
  • Acne Vulgaris / metabolism
  • Acne Vulgaris / pathology
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Commiphora
  • Facial Dermatoses / drug therapy
  • Facial Dermatoses / metabolism
  • Facial Dermatoses / pathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Gums
  • Recurrence
  • Sebum / drug effects
  • Sebum / metabolism
  • Tetracycline / administration & dosage
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Plant Gums
  • guggulu extract
  • Tetracycline