A 12-week clinical trial evaluating two topical herbal emollients containing ginger extract and cannabidiol demonstrated sustained improvements in symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting more than 200 million individuals globally.
The study investigated 2 formulations—BNO 3731 (intensive care product) and BNO 3732 (body lotion)—in 100 participants with mild AD, of whom 94 completed the trial. Participants included children (≥2 years) and adults. BNO 3732 was applied twice daily to the body, and BNO 3731 was used as needed on affected areas.
Clinical assessments included subjective measures (itch and quality of life) and objective signs (erythema, dryness, scaling, and papules). Within 4 weeks, peak itch intensity decreased by 53% based on the numerical rating scale (NRS-11), and 64% of participants achieved a reduction of at least 2 points, the minimal clinically important difference. This improvement was sustained through week 12. Recap of Atopic Eczema (RECAP) scores decreased by 54% in the first month and remained significantly lower throughout the study.
Compared with a concurrent observational cohort, fewer participants in the trial experienced flare-ups (35% vs 96%), and corticosteroid use was substantially lower (12% vs 73%). Overall, 93% of participants did not use topical corticosteroids during the trial.
Dermatologist assessments confirmed progressive improvement in objective signs. By week 12, 88% of participants were vIGA-AD™ responders (≥1-point reduction), and 59% achieved vIGA-AD™ success (≥2-point reduction to score 0 or 1).
In an adult subpanel, laboratory analysis demonstrated significant increases in ceramide EOS, ceramide NP, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. Transmission electron microscopy showed a 94% reduction in areas with impaired lipid lamellae, indicating near-complete restoration of skin barrier structure. Corneocyte maturity also improved significantly. However, transepidermal water loss did not change significantly, likely due to normal baseline values.
More than 90% of participants were satisfied with the product combination, and 96% reported good tolerability. One treatment-related adverse event was documented.
These findings support the potential of herbal emollients containing active cosmetic ingredients as a non-steroidal option for long-term management of atopic dermatitis.
Full disclosures and methodological details are available in the published study
Source: Acta Dermato-Venereologica