PI3K-Mediated Proliferation of Fibroblasts by Calendula officinalis Tincture: Implication in Wound Healing

Analysis of the Impact of Ethanol Extract of Calendula officinalis L. on Human Fibroblast Cell Cultures Using the PANsys 3000 Device for Breeding and Visualization of Cells

Calendula officinalis L. promotes wound healing and might be effective in gingival fibroblast stimulation. The influence of different concentrations of Calendula officinalis L. ethanol extract on human gingival fibroblast was visualized using PANsys 3000-a fully automated cell culture device used for in vitro culture to study cells under conditions similar to in vivo. The human fibroblast cells were isolated from gingival tissue. The 100% brew of Calendula officinalis L., as well as 7% and 20% Calendula officinalis L. ethanol extract, were added to the cultured cells and observed for 72 h. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the volatile compounds of marigold Calendula officinalis L. flowers are presented in this study. The essential oil compounds of the decoction were isolated with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed with gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, and other compounds was demonstrated. The composition was correlated with the fragrance properties. Observation of gingival fibroblast showed that there were no changes in cell morphology and proliferation after 100% Calendula officinalis L. brew stimulation. The growth and cell division were not inhibited. Likewise, the addition of 7% or 20% ethanol in water extract of Calendula officinalis L. stimulation did not inhibit the fibroblast proliferation. Overall, ethanol extracts of Calendula officinalis L. decrease the alcohol cytotoxic influence on gingival fibroblasts.

Potential use of the Asteraceae family as a cure for diabetes: A review of ethnopharmacology to modern day drug and nutraceuticals developments

The diabetes-associated mortality rate is increasing annually, along with the severity of its accompanying disorders that impair human health. Worldwide, several medicinal plants are frequently urged for the management of diabetes. Reports are available on the use of medicinal plants by traditional healers for their blood-sugar-lowering effects, along with scientific evidence to support such claims. The Asteraceae family is one of the most diverse flowering plants, with about 1,690 genera and 32,000 species. Since ancient times, people have consumed various herbs of the Asteraceae family as food and employed them as medicine. Despite the wide variety of members within the family, most of them are rich in naturally occurring polysaccharides that possess potent prebiotic effects, which trigger their use as potential nutraceuticals. This review provides detailed information on the reported Asteraceae plants traditionally used as antidiabetic agents, with a major focus on the plants of this family that are known to exert antioxidant, hepatoprotective, vasodilation, and wound healing effects, which further action for the prevention of major diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD), liver cirrhosis, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Moreover, this review highlights the potential of Asteraceae plants to counteract diabetic conditions when used as food and nutraceuticals. The information documented in this review article can serve as a pioneer for developing research initiatives directed at the exploration of Asteraceae and, at the forefront, the development of a botanical drug for the treatment of DM.

Topical effect of polyherbal flowers extract on xanthan gum hydrogel patch-induced wound healing activity in human cell lines and male BALB/c mice

Wound or injury is a breakdown in the skin's protective function as well as damage to the normal tissues. Wound healing is a dynamic and complex phenomenon of replacing injured skin or body tissues. In ancient times theCalendula officinalisandHibiscus rosa-sinensisflowers were extensively used by the tribal communities as herbal medicine for various complications including wound healing. But loading and delivery of such herbal medicines are challenging because it maintains their molecular structure against temperature, moisture, and other ambient factors. This study has fabricated xanthan gum (XG) hydrogel through a facile process and encapsulatedC. officinalisandH. rosa-sinensisflower extract. The resulting hydrogel was characterized by different physical methods like x-ray diffractometer, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, SEM, dynamic light scattering, electronkinetic potential in colloidal systems (ZETA) potential, thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), etc. The polyherbal extract was phytochemically screened and observed that flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, anthraquinones, glycosides, amino acids, and a few percentages of reducing sugar were present in the polyherbal extract. Polyherbal extract encapsulated XG hydrogel (X@C-H) significantly enhanced the proliferation of fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines in comparison to the bare excipient treated cells as determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Also, the proliferation of these cells was confirmed by BrdU assay and enhanced expression of pAkt. In anin-vivostudy, wound healing activity of BALB/c mice was carried out and we observed that X@C-H hydrogel showed significant result compared to the other groups (untreated, X, X@C, X@H). Henceforth, we conclude that this synthesized biocompatible hydrogel could emerge as a promising carrier of more than one herbal excipients.

Structures, Sources, Identification/Quantification Methods, Health Benefits, Bioaccessibility, and Products of Isorhamnetin Glycosides as Phytonutrients

In recent years, people have tended to consume phytonutrients and nutrients in their daily diets. Isorhamnetin glycosides (IGs) are an essential class of flavonoids derived from dietary and medicinal plants such as Opuntia ficus-indica, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Ginkgo biloba. This review summarizes the structures, sources, quantitative and qualitative analysis technologies, health benefits, bioaccessibility, and marketed products of IGs. Routine and innovative assay methods, such as IR, TLC, NMR, UV, MS, HPLC, UPLC, and HSCCC, have been widely used for the characterization and quantification of IGs. All of the therapeutic effects of IGs discovered to date are collected and discussed in this study, with an emphasis on the relevant mechanisms of their health-promoting effects. IGs exhibit diverse biological activities against cancer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, obesity, and thrombosis. They exert therapeutic effects through multiple networks of underlying molecular signaling pathways. Owing to these benefits, IGs could be utilized to make foods and functional foods. IGs exhibit higher bioaccessibility and plasma concentrations and longer average residence time in blood than aglycones. Overall, IGs as phytonutrients are very promising and have excellent application potential.

Co-electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) nanofiber scaffolds containing coffee and Calendula officinalis extracts for wound healing applications

Fabrication of a biocompatible nanofibrous dressing with the advantage of the inclusion of bioactive herbal extracts is a promising approach in skin tissue engineering and wound healing applications. Herbal extracts possess many properties to promote the wound healing process, such as antioxidant properties, anti-inflammation activities as well as enhancing fibroblasts proliferation and migration.

In this study, Calendula officinalis ( C. officinalis) and coffee extracts were loaded into poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PVA/PCL) nanofibrous mats. The obtained scaffolds were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), contact angle, and mechanical measurements. Also, the antioxidant activity, scratch assay, and cell viability of fibroblast cells were also evaluated. The results showed PVA/PCL scaffold loaded with 10 wt% C. officinalis and coffee extracts displayed smooth homogenous morphology with 317 ± 106 nm average diameter. Moreover, the relevant analyses confirmed that the extracts were incorporated into the nanofibers with suitable hydrophilicity and higher mechanical strength (4 ± 0.4 MPa). The antioxidant assay showed that IC50 values of coffee and C. officinalis extracts were 46 ± 1 ppm and 101 ± 4 ppm, successively, which presented a high antioxidant activity. The combination of both extracts showed a higher rate of migration than individual extracts with not detected cytotoxic effects on the human dermal fibroblast cells. In conclusion, our results confirmed that the coffee and C. officinalis extracts loaded PVA/PCL nanofibrous scaffolds could provide an appropriate construct for wound healing applications.

A Comprehensive Review of Natural Compounds for Wound Healing: Targeting Bioactivity Perspective

Wound healing is a recovering process of damaged tissues by replacing dysfunctional injured cellular structures. Natural compounds for wound treatment have been widely used for centuries. Numerous published works provided reviews of natural compounds for wound healing applications, which separated the approaches based on different categories such as characteristics, bioactivities, and modes of action. However, current studies provide reviews of natural compounds that originated from only plants or animals. In this work, we provide a comprehensive review of natural compounds sourced from both plants and animals that target the different bioactivities of healing to promote wound resolution. The compounds were classified into four main groups (i.e., anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and collagen promotion), mostly studied in current literature from 1992 to 2022. Those compounds are listed in tables for readers to search for their origin, bioactivity, and targeting phases in wound healing. We also reviewed the trend in using natural compounds for wound healing.

Phytochemistry and Biological Activity of Medicinal Plants in Wound Healing: An Overview of Current Research

Wound healing is a complicated process, and the effective management of wounds is a major challenge. Natural herbal remedies have now become fundamental for the management of skin disorders and the treatment of skin infections due to the side effects of modern medicine and lower price for herbal products. The aim of the present study is to summarize the most recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on major herbal preparations, their phytochemical constituents, and new formulations for wound management. Research reveals that several herbal medicaments have marked activity in the management of wounds and that this activity is ascribed to flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and phenolic compounds. These phytochemicals can act at different stages of the process by means of various mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, collagen synthesis stimulating, cell proliferation, and angiogenic effects. The application of natural compounds using nanotechnology systems may provide significant improvement in the efficacy of wound treatments. Increasing the clinical use of these therapies would require safety assessment in clinical trials.

Botanical Drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine With Wound Healing Properties

Chronic and unhealed wound is a serious public problem, which brings severe economic burdens and psychological pressure to patients. Various botanical drugs in traditional Chinese medicine have been used for the treatment of wounds since ancient time. Nowadays, multiple wound healing therapeutics derived from botanical drugs are commercially available worldwide. An increasing number of investigations have been conducted to elucidate the wound healing activities and the potential mechanisms of botanical drugs in recent years. The aim of this review is to summarize the botanical drugs in traditional Chinese medicine with wound healing properties and the underlying mechanisms of them, which can contribute to the research of wound healing and drug development. Taken together, five botanical drugs that have been developed into commercially available products, and 24 botanical drugs with excellent wound healing activities and several multiherbal preparations are reviewed in this article.

Compendium of Conventional and Targeted Drug Delivery Formulation Used for the Treatment and Management of the Wound Healing

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that involves the restoration of normal physiology and functioning of injured tissue. The process of wound healing is primarily regulated by various cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and growth factors at the molecular level. Any intervention in the normal wound healing process leads to further tissue damage, which in turn leads to delayed wound healing. Several natural, synthetic drugs and their combinations were used to restored and accelerate the wound healing process. However, the conventional delivery carriers were not much effective, and thus, nowadays, nanocarriers are gaining much popularity since they are playing a pivotal role in drug delivery. Since nanocarriers have their own applicability and benefits (enhance the bioavailability, site-specific targeting) so, they can accelerate wound healing more efficiently. This review briefly discussed about the various events that take place during the wound healing process with emphasis on various natural, synthetic, and combination drug therapy used for accelerating wound healing and the role of nanotechnology-based approaches in chronic wound healing.

Wound Healing Activity of a Novel Formulation SKRIN via Induction of Cell Cycle Progression and Inhibition of PCNA-p21 Complex Interaction Leading to Cell Survival and Proliferation

The process of wound healing is a dynamic event that starts with inflammation, proliferation, and cell migration of various types of fibroblast cells. Therefore, identification of potential molecules which may increase the wound healing capacity of fibroblast cells is crucial. A novel hydroalcoholic formulation of belladonna (SKRIN), was developed and characterized by GC-MS/MS, DLS, TEM, and AFM and was found to contain atropine and scopolamine exhibit in aggregated nanosized particles. SKRIN-mediated fibroblast cell survival was elucidated in the presence of H₂O₂ by MTT and flow cytometry based assays. With an EC₅₀ of 4.41 μg/mL, SKRIN treatment showed significant increase in cell survival that was evident from a 1.11-fold increase (p < 0.0122) in the live cell population and 4.21-fold (p < 0.0001) and 2.59-fold (p < 0.0001) reductions in the early and late apoptotic cell populations, respectively. SKRIN-mediated wound healing was measured by cell scratch assay and cell cycle analysis. During the wound closure phenomenon, SKRIN increases repairing fibroblast cell proliferation by 1.24-fold (p = 0.0481) and increases the count of G2/M phase cells by 1.76-fold (p = 0.0002) which was confirmed by increased PCNA and reduced p21 protein expressions probably mediated by molecular interactions of PCNA-p21 complex with alkaloids present in SKRIN. Relative gene expression analysis further showed that SKRIN increases the PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB expression. Our data suggests that SKRIN exhibits wound healing property by increasing cell survival and repairing fibroblast proliferation via activation of the PI3K-Akt-NF-κB pathway probably mediated by inhibition of PCNA-p21 complex interaction.

The effects of natural compounds on wound healing in Iranian traditional medicine: A comprehensive review

Wounds are physical and anatomical disruption in healthy skin and represent an important healthcare concern around the world. Wound healing is a complex and dynamic cascade of cellular and molecular interactions which include four main phases: hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. Therefore, some pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities can play a key role in the process of wound healing. Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) has a rich background of practice and a wealth of ancient medicine scientists from the Old Persian days until today. This paper presents and characterizes pure data from original references of ITM about wound remedies and verifies their function by reviewing articles from three databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus), which could be an interesting and comprehensive resource for future researchers interested in traditional medicine (TM) generally and in ITM in particular. Selected natural compounds from the references were divided into 5 groups, including herbs, herbal products, animal products, minerals, and animals. In total, 23 natural compounds with regard to the current state of knowledge and ITM were introduced and verified. The present review will provide better insights into ITM and its extensive experience in topics such as wound healing.

Tissue reaction and anti-biofilm action of new biomaterial composed of latex from Hancornia speciosa Gomes and silver nanoparticles

In this work, the natural latex extracted from Harconia speciosa was incorporated with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) to compose a functional biomaterial associating the intrinsic angiogenic activity of the latex and the antimicrobial activity of AgNP. Tissue reaction after subcutaneous implantation in dorsum of rats of membranes without AgNP and with 0.05%, 0.4% AgNP was compared at 3, 7 and 25 days. No statistically significant difference in the tissue response of the different biomaterials was observed, indicating that AgNP did not interfere with the inflammatory reaction (p > 0.05) or with the angiogenic activity of latex. Biomembranes were also tested against bacterial biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and the antimicrobial activity of the new biomaterial can be found with bacteria crenation (0.05% AgNP) and no biofilm deposition (0.4% AgNP). Therefore, this biomaterial has interesting properties for the tissue repair process and may be feasible for future applications as dressing.

Efficacy of a topical herbal and mineral formulation (Dynamiclear) for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis in the community setting: study protocol for a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Herpes simplex labialis (HSL) is a common infection that can cause painful lesions on the oral mucosa, commonly referred to as cold sores. Current biomedical treatments include topical aciclovir, which reduces the episode duration by an average of 0.5 days. This study will examine the efficacy and tolerability of an over-the-counter topical treatment, Dynamiclear in reducing duration and severity of HSL episodes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial will recruit a minimum of 292 adult participants across Australia and New Zealand who present with a cold sore within 48 hours of onset. They will be randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to receive either topical Dynamiclear (active) or placebo. Dynamiclear's active ingredients are Hypericum perforatum, Calendula Officinalis and copper sulfate. A single topical treatment of active or placebo will be applied by a pharmacy-based investigator, and participants will be provided with a viral swab kit to confirm presence of herpes virus 1 or 2 from ulcerated lesions. Participants will receive reminders by email and/or SMS to complete an online daily diary assessing their cold sore lesion using a visual guide, and recording other symptoms on numeric scales until healed. The primary outcome variable is median duration of HSL episode in days (participant evaluated) from presentation to return to normal skin. Secondary outcomes include severity of lesion pain, itching, burning and tingling during the symptomatic phase and proportion of lesions progressing to ulceration.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Australian ethics approval from Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee, ref: H12776. New Zealand Ethics approval from The Health and Disability Ethics Committees (HDEC) ref: 18/CEN/151. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal, presented at academic meetings and reported to participants TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000890235); Universal Trial Number (UTN) (U1111-1233-2426).

Wound Healing and the Use of Medicinal Plants

Cutaneous wound healing is the process by which skin repairs itself. It is generally accepted that cutaneous wound healing can be divided into 4 phases: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. In humans, keratinocytes re-form a functional epidermis (reepithelialization) as rapidly as possible, closing the wound and reestablishing tissue homeostasis. Dermal fibroblasts migrate into the wound bed and proliferate, creating “granulation tissue” rich in extracellular matrix proteins and supporting the growth of new blood vessels. Ultimately, this is remodelled over an extended period, returning the injured tissue to a state similar to that before injury. Dysregulation in any phase of the wound healing cascade delays healing and may result in various skin pathologies, including nonhealing, or chronic ulceration. Indigenous and traditional medicines make extensive use of natural products and derivatives of natural products and provide more than half of all medicines consumed today throughout the world. Recognising the important role traditional medicine continues to play, we have undertaken an extensive survey of literature reporting the use of medical plants and plant-based products for cutaneous wounds. We describe the active ingredients, bioactivities, clinical uses, formulations, methods of preparation, and clinical value of 36 medical plant species. Several species stand out, including Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, and Paeonia suffruticosa, which are popular wound healing products used by several cultures and ethnic groups. The popularity and evidence of continued use clearly indicates that there are still lessons to be learned from traditional practices. Hidden in the myriad of natural products and derivatives from natural products are undescribed reagents, unexplored combinations, and adjunct compounds that could have a place in the contemporary therapeutic inventory.

Effects of Periploca forrestii Schltr on wound healing by Src meditated Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt signals

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Periploca forrestii Schltr. (PF) is a traditional folk medicine in China that has been used widely for treating rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injuries for a long history. Previously, we have roughly demonstrated that the ethanol extract of PF possessed in vitro wound healing potential, and more in depth research deserves to be conducted.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study is aiming to fully evaluate the wound healing activity of PF in vitro and in vivo, clarify the mechanism of actions and the primary constituents responsible for wound healing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total extract of Periploca forrestii Schltr. (EPF) and its fraction (65% ethanol fraction, EPFE65) were obtained and evaluated on in vitro wound healing properties using mouse dermal fibroblasts (L929). Cell proliferation was tested by MTT and EdU assay, confirmed by cell cycle analysis, cell migration was evaluated by scratch and transwell assay and collagen production was also determined. Then EPFE65 was tested on in vivo wound healing activity using the excision rat models. The wounded skin of rats was topically applied with 0.1% EPFE65 once daily for 6 days with hydrogel as the carrier and the recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor hydrogel (rbFGF) as positive control. Histopathology of the wounded skin on day 6 and day 12 was studied via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression of phosphorylation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 was determined after the treatment with EPFE65 by western blot. In order to figure out whether the activation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 was directly in conjunction with wound healing process promoted by EPFE65, cell proliferation and migration were tested in the presence of three inhibitors of Src, Akt and Erk1/2. Finally, the chemical composition of the effective fraction EPFE65 was analyzed by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

RESULTS

In vitro experiments suggested that EPFE65 was comparable to EPF that had potent effect on promoting L929 fibroblasts proliferation, migration and increasing collagen production. 0.1% EPFE65 hydrogel also exhibited significant effect on promoting wound healing in rats. The wound closure was significantly faster in EPFE65 and positive rbFGF group than that in negative control group since the third day post wounding (p < 0.05). Specifically, on day10-12, the wounds in EPFE65 and rbFGF group were almost healed as the wound areas diminished into 13.3-5.3% and 7.7-4.0%, while the wound in control group was still apparent with 36.8-22.1% wound area. HE staining demonstrated that EPFE65 and rbFGF group could advance re-epithelialization in the early days and promote the transition of granulation tissue into complete dermis tissue with more skin appendages resembling those of normal skin in the last days. Western blot results suggested that the active fraction EPFE65 could increase the phosphorylation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, whereas Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation caused by EPFE65 could be abolished by Src inhibition. Inhibition experiments confirmed that the activation of Src, Akt and Erk1/2 were involved in cell proliferation and migration. All of these demonstrated that EPFE65 promoted wound healing at least in part via Src mediated Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Analysis of chemical composition of EPFE65 revealed that cardiac glycosides were major components in EPFE65, among which periplocin showed effectiveness on promoting fibroblasts proliferation indicating that cardiac glycosides in EPFE65 maybe the active compounds responsible for wound healing.

CONCLUSION

The present study confirmed that EPFE65, ethanol extract of Periploca forrestii Schltr. could accelerate wound healing in vitro and in vivo through Src meditated Mek/Erk and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Medicinal plants as therapeutic options for topical treatment in canine dermatology? A systematic review

Background

Medicinal plants have been used traditionally since centuries for wound care and treatment of skin diseases both in human and animals. Skin diseases are one of the most common reasons for owners to take their dog to the veterinarian. The demands for treatment and prophylaxis of these diseases are broad. A wide range of bacteria including antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be involved, making the treatment challenging and bear an anthropo-zoonotic potential. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate based on recent scientific literature, the potential of four medicinal plants to enrich the therapeutic options in pyoderma, canine atopic dermatitis, otitis externa, wounds and dermatophytosis in dogs.

Results

Based on four books and a survey among veterinarians specialized in phytotherapy, four medicinal plants were chosen as the subject of this systematic review: Calendula officinalis L. (Marigold), Hypericum perforatum L. agg. (St. John’s Wort), Matricaria chamomilla L. (syn. Matricaria recutita L., Chamomile) and Salvia officinalis L. (Sage). According to the PRISMA statement through literature research on two online databases a total of 8295 publications was screened and narrowed down to a final 138 publications for which full-text documents were analyzed for its content resulting in a total of 145 references (21 clinical, 24 in vivo and 100 in vitro references).

Conclusions

All four plants were proven to have antibacterial and antifungal effects of a rather broad spectrum including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This makes them an interesting new option for the treatment of pyoderma, otitis externa, infected wounds and dermatophytosis. Marigold, St. John’s Wort and Chamomile showed wound-healing properties and are thus promising candidates in line to fill the therapeutic gap in canine wound-healing agents. St. John’s Wort and Chamomile also showed anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects on healthy skin. Due to the wide range of beneficial effects of these medicinal plants, they should be taken into account for the treatment of dermatologic diseases in dogs at least in future clinical research.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-019-1854-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Do recent research studies validate the medicinal plants used in British Columbia, Canada for pet diseases and wild animals taken into temporary care?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

There are insufficient safe and effective treatments for chronic pain in pets. In cases such as osteoarthritis there is no commercially available cure and veterinarians use NSAIDs to manage pain. Pet owners may have to plan for a lifetime of plant-based treatment for the conditions that lead to chronic pain in pets. Phytopharmacotherapies have the advantage of being less toxic, cheap or free, readily available, are more likely to be safe for long-term use and have the potential to reset the immune system to normal functioning.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To examine the recently published medicinal plant research that matches unpublished data on ethnoveterinary medicines (EVM) used for pets in Canada (British Columbia) to see if the EVM data can provide a lead to the development of necessary drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 2003 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 participants who were organic farmers or holisitic medicinal/veterinary practitioners obtained using a purposive sample. A draft manual prepared from the data was then evaluated by participants at a participatory workshop that discussed the plant-based treatments. A copy of the final version of the manual was given to all research participants. In 2018, the recently published research matching the EVM data was reviewed to see if the EVM practices could serve as a lead for further research.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Medicinal plants are used to treat a range of conditions. The injuries treated in pets in British Columbia included abscesses (resulting from an initial injury), sprains and abrasions. Dogs were also treated with medicinal plants for rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain and articular cartilage injuries. More than 40 plants were used. Anal gland problems were treated with Allium sativum L., Aloe vera L., Calendula officinalis L., Plantago major L., Ulmus fulva Michx., Urtica dioica L. and Usnea longissima Ach. Arctium lappa, Hydrangea arborescens and Lactuca muralis were used for rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain in pets. Asthma was treated with: Linum usitatissimum L., Borago officinalis L., Verbascum thapsus L., Cucurbita pepo L., Lobelia inflata L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Pets with heart problems were treated with Crataegus oxyacantha L., Cedronella canariensis (L.) Willd. ex Webb & Berth, Equisetum palustre L., Cypripedium calceolus L., Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson, Humulus lupulus L., Valeriana officinalis L., Lobelia inflata L., Stachys officinalis (L.) Trev., and Viscum album L. The following plants were used for epilepsy, motion sickness and anxiety- Avena sativa L., Valeriana officinalis, Lactuca muralis (L.) Fresen., Scutellaria lateriflora L., Satureja hortensis L., and Passiflora incarnata L. Plants used for cancer treatment included Phytolacca decandra, Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Rumex acetosella, Arctium lappa, Ulmus fulva, Rheum palmatum, Frangula purshiana, Zingiber officinale, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ulmus fulva, Althea officinalis, Rheum palmatum, Rumex crispus and Plantago psyllium. Trifolium pratense was used for tumours in the prostate gland. Also used were Artemisia annua, Taraxacum officinale and Rumex crispus. This review of plants used in EVM was possible because phytotherapy research of the plants described in this paper has continued because few new pharmaceutical drugs have been developed for chronic pain and because treatments like glucocorticoid therapy do not heal. Phytotherapuetic products are also being investigated to address the overuse of antibiotics. There have also been recent studies conducted on plant-based functional foods and health supplements for pets, however there are still gaps in the knowledge base for the plants Stillingia sylvatica, Verbascum thapsus, Yucca schidigera and Iris versicolor and these need further investigation.

Periplocin promotes wound healing through the activation of Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways mediated by Na/K-ATPase

BACKGROUND

Periploca forrestii(PF) is mainly utilized for treatment of arthritis and traumatic injury historically. We had previously demonstrated that a fraction rich in cardiotonic steroids isolated from PF had the potential to facilitate wound healing. However, the exact material basis and mechanism of action responsible for wound healing is still unclear. Periplocin(PP) is the highest level of cardiotonic steroid included in PF. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of periplocin on wound healing systematically in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The L929 proliferation was determined by both MTT and EdU assay. Cell migration was tested by both scratch and transwell assay. The total amount of soluble collagen was assessed using a Sircol Collagen Assay Kit. The wound healing activity was evaluated in vivo using the excision rat models. Histopathology of the wounded skin on day 9 was studied via hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) for general morphological observations and masson's trichrome staining for collagen deposition, respectively. The alteration in Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways mediated by Na/K-ATPase was determined by western blot after the treatment with periplocin. The interaction between Na/K-ATPase and Src was tested by immunoprecipitation and immunostaining analysis.

RESULTS

The results revealed that periplocin could significantly boost proliferation, migration and stimulate collagen production in fibroblast L929 cells, which is dependent on activation of Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways mediated by Na/K-ATPase, and thus promoting wound healing. Indeed, inhibition of Na/K-ATPase/Src complex receptor by Src specific inhibitor or knocking down the Na/K-ATPase expression would abolish the subsequent activation of Src/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways and attenuate periplocin-induced beneficial effects on wound healing. Additionally, the wound healing activity is also confirmed in a rat excisional wound model as evidenced by increased rate of wound closure, reepithelization, formation of granulation tissue and collagen accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we lay the rationale for traditional usage for traumatic injury, suggesting that periplocin and periploca forrestii is a promising candidate for management of chronic wounds.

Wound Healing Potential of Spirulina Protein on CCD-986sk Cells

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process. The proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts are crucial for wound healing. Recent studies have indicated that the extracts from Spirulina platensis have a positive potential for wound healing. However, its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Our previous study showed that spirulina crude protein (SPCP) promoted the viability of human dermal fibroblast cell line (CCD-986sk cells). In this study, we further investigated the wound healing effect and corresponding mechanisms of SPCP on CCD-986sk cells. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay showed that SPCP promoted the proliferation of CCD-986sk cells. The wound healing assay showed that SPCP promoted the migration of CCD-986sk cells. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis demonstrated that SPCP promoted CCD-986sk cells to enter S and G₂/M phases from G₀/G₁ phase. Western blot results showed that SPCP significantly upregulated the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (Cdk6), as well as inhibited the expression of CDK inhibitors p21 and p27 in CCD-986sk cells. In the meanwhile, SPCP promoted the phosphorylation and activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt). However, the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly blocked by PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), which in turn reduced the SPCP-induced proliferation and migration of CCD-986sk cells. Therefore, the results presenting in this study suggested that SPCP can promote the proliferation and migration of CCD-986sk cells; the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway play a positive and important role in these processes.

Use of Some Asteraceae Plants for the Treatment of Wounds: From Ethnopharmacological Studies to Scientific Evidences

Severe wounds result in large lesions and/or loss of function of the affected areas. The treatment of wounds has challenged health professionals due to its complexity, especially in patients with chronic diseases (such as diabetes), and the presence of pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Taking this into consideration, the development of new therapies for wound healing requires immediate attention. Ethnopharmacological studies performed in different countries have shown the use of several plants from the Asteraceae family as wound-healing agents. Evidences gained from the traditional medicine have opened new ways for the development of novel and more efficient therapies based on the pharmacological properties of these plants. In this article, we discuss the literature data on the use of Asteraceae plants for the treatment of wounds, based on the ethnopharmacological relevance of each plant. Special attention was given to studies showing the mechanisms of action of Asteraceae-derived compounds and clinical trials. Ageratina pichinchensis (Kunth) R.M. King and H. Rob. and Calendula officinalis L. preparations/compounds were found to show good efficacy when assessed in clinical trials of complicated wounds, including venous leg ulcers and foot ulcers of diabetic patients. The compounds silibinin [from Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.] and jaceosidin (from Artemisia princeps Pamp.) were identified as promising compounds for the treatment of wounds. Overall, we suggest that Asteraceae plants represent important sources of compounds that may act as new and efficient healing products.

Natural actives for wound healing: A review

Nature has been a source of medicinal treatments for thousands of years, with the use of plants as prototypes for drug development and for the extraction of active compounds. Skin injuries occur regularly in everyday life, and the human skin has the ability to promote repair spontaneously under healthy conditions. However, some intrinsic and external factors may interfere with skins' natural ability, leading to nonhealing lesions and chronic wounds, which directly affect health and quality of life. Thus, attention should be given to this health problem, using an appropriated management when necessary. In this scenario, phytotherapy may be an option for cutaneous wound treatment, although further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of plants. This article reviews traditionally used natural actives for wound healing, highlighting their characteristics and mode of action.

Antibacterial activity of polyphenolic fraction of Kombucha against Vibrio cholerae: targeting cell membrane

The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism of antibacterial activity of a polyphenolic fraction, composed of mainly catechin and isorhamnetin, previously isolated from Kombucha, a 14-day fermented beverage of sugared black tea, against the enteropathogen Vibrio cholerae N16961. Bacterial growth was found to be seriously impaired by the polyphenolic fraction in a dose-dependent manner. Scanning Electron Microscopy demonstrated morphological alterations in bacterial cells when exposed to the polyphenolic fraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Permeabilization assays confirmed that the fraction disrupted bacterial membrane integrity in both time- and dose-dependent manners, which were proportional to the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, each of the polyphenols catechin and isorhamnetin showed the ability to permeate bacterial cell membranes by generating oxidative stress, thereby suggesting their role in the antibacterial potential of Kombucha. Thus, the basic mechanism of antibacterial activity of the Kombucha polyphenolic fraction against V. cholerae involved bacterial membrane permeabilization and morphological changes, which might be due to the generation of intracellular ROS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of antibacterial mechanism of Kombucha, which is mostly attributed to its polyphenolic content.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Vibrio cholerae strains has hindered an efficient anti-Vibrio therapy. This study has demonstrated the membrane damage-mediated antibacterial mechanism of Kombucha, a popular fermented beverage of sugared tea, which is mostly attributed to its polyphenolic content. This study also implies the exploitation of Kombucha as a potential new source of bioactive polyphenols against V. cholerae.

In vitro studies to evaluate the wound healing properties of Calendula officinalis extracts

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) flower extracts have a long-lasting tradition in ethnopharmacology. Currently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved its lipophilic and aqueous alcoholic extracts as traditional medicinal products for the treatment of minor inflammation of the skin and as an aid in the healing of minor wounds.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to analyse the molecular mechanism of the wound healing effects of Calendula extracts, which may reflect the phytomedicines currently used in the market.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of three different extracts from Calendula flowers (n-hexanic, ethanolic, aqueous) on the inflammatory phase of wound healing was studied in human immortalized keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay on NF-κB-DNA binding, qRT-PCR and ELISA experiments were performed. The effect of Calendula extracts on the new tissue formation phase of wound healing was evaluated by studying the migratory properties of these extracts, triterpene mixtures and single compounds in human immortalized keratinocytes using the scratch assay. Finally, the effect of the extracts on the formation of granulation tissue in wound healing was studied using bacterial collagenase isolated from Clostridium histolyticum and the determination of soluble collagen in the supernatant of human dermal fibroblasts.

RESULTS

The n-hexanic and the ethanolic extracts from Calendula flowers influence the inflammatory phase by activating the transcription factor NF-κB and by increasing the amount of the chemokine IL-8, both at the transcriptional and protein level, in human immortalized keratinocytes. The migration of the keratinocytes during the new tissue formation phase was only marginally influenced in the scratch assay. However, it can be assumed that the granulation tissue was affected, as the ethanolic extract inhibited the activity of collagenase in vitro and enhanced the amount of collagen in the supernatant of human dermal fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results contribute to a better understanding of the wound healing properties of the traditional medicinal plant Calendula officinalis. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate which of its known constituents are responsible for these effects. Triterpenes seem to play only a marginal role, but carotene and xanthophyll derivatives should garner more attention in future studies.

The Water Fraction of Calendula officinalis Hydroethanol Extract Stimulates In Vitro and In Vivo Proliferation of Dermal Fibroblasts in Wound Healing

The active fraction and/or compounds of Calendula officinalis responsible for wound healing are not known yet. In this work we studied the molecular target of C. officinalis hydroethanol extract (CEE) and its active fraction (water fraction of hydroethanol extract, WCEE) on primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). In vivo, CEE or WCEE were topically applied on excisional wounds of BALB/c mice and the rate of wound contraction and immunohistological studies were carried out. We found that CEE and only its WCEE significantly stimulated the proliferation as well as the migration of HDF cells. Also they up-regulate the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in vitro. In vivo, CEE or WCEE treated mice groups showed faster wound healing and increased expression of CTGF and α-SMA compared to placebo control group. The increased expression of both the proteins during granulation phase of wound repair demonstrated the potential role of C. officinalis in wound healing. In addition, HPLC-ESI MS analysis of the active water fraction revealed the presence of two major compounds, rutin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside. Thus, our results showed that C. officinalis potentiated wound healing by stimulating the expression of CTGF and α-SMA and further we identified active compounds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.