Compound isolated from the cock’s comb and its effect on palmar arsenical keratosis

Abstract

This study was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the ointment containing cock’s comb extract and to identify the compound that was effective in the treatment of palmar arsenical keratosis. On the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 24 patients with moderate to severe palmar arsenical keratosis were enrolled from an arsenic endemic area. The ointment prepared from the cock’s comb extract was supplied to each patient at an interval of 2 weeks. Each patient was advised to apply the ointment on the nodule by rubbing gently up to 5 minutes and twice daily for 12 weeks. Improvement was monitored by measuring the nodular size before starting and after completion of the treatment. The mean (± SD) size of the nodules of the palm before treatment was 16.6 ± 5.0 mm², which was reduced to 4.0 ± 3.8 mm² after completion of the treatment. This reduction was statistically significant. To identify the effective compound nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectrophotometry, elemental analysis and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy of the extract were done yet conclusion could not be achieved.