Wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties of Ranunculus pedatus and Ranunculus constantinapolitanus: a comparative study

Ipomoea pes-tigridis L. extract accelerates wound healing in Wistar albino rats in excision and incision models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

An annual herb, Ipomoea pes-tigridis L. (Convolvulaceae) is widely used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties in traditional medicine. As well as treating wounds, fever, skin disorders, and other ailments, it is also used for other purposes.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study investigated polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity, RP-HPLC, wound healing, and antioxidant enzyme activity. In terms of I. pes-tigridis potential for healing wounds, there is no scientific data available. Hence this study is designed to use animal models to investigate the ethnopharmacological report.

MATERIALS METHODS

The crude extracts of stem and leaf were subjected to phytochemicals, TPC, TTC, TFC, and free radical scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS, etc). Excision and incision models were used to assess wound healing using the screened extracts (IPLEA, IPLM, IPSEA, and IPSM). Various tissue parameters (hydroxyproline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid content), as well as antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, Catalase, GPX, LPO), were also examined.

RESULTS

The maximum amount of polyphenolic content was found in IPLM (TPC- 118.86 ± 5.94 mg GAE/g, TTC - 75.25 ± 2.64 mg TAE/g, and TFC-25.73 ± 0.99 mg GAE/g) with significant IC50 value of 1.65 ± 0.87 μg/mL among all the extracts. Coumaric acid was reported high (92.86 mg/g) in RP-HPLC analysis of crude extract in IPLEA. The in vivo excision wound healing model revealed that 1% IPLM had better healing property with the maximum wound healing area (0.098 ± 0.03 cm) and wound concentration (95.56 ± 1.95%) was reported with the significance level of ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05. In the incision model, IPLM represented maximum tensile strength (27500 gf). A significant functional effect of the granulation tissue parameters and enzyme antioxidants on the wound-healed area of dry tissue was also observed. Finally, the histopathological analysis showed enhanced re-epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen synthesis in wound-treated animal tissue in both models.

CONCLUSION

According to the present study, antioxidant-rich I. pes-tigridis promotes healthy cell regeneration while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress for wound healing. Additionally, it also enhances circulation and promotes healing.

Complete Chloroplast Genome Determination of Ranunculus sceleratus from Republic of Korea (Ranunculaceae) and Comparative Chloroplast Genomes of the Members of the Ranunculus Genus

Ranunculus sceleratus (family: Ranunculaceae) is a medicinally and economically important plant; however, gaps in taxonomic and species identification limit its practical applicability. This study aimed to sequence the chloroplast genome of R. sceleratus from Republic of Korea. Chloroplast sequences were compared and analyzed among Ranunculus species. The chloroplast genome was assembled from Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing raw data. The genome was 156,329 bp and had a typical quadripartite structure comprising a small single-copy region, a large single-copy region, and two inverted repeats. Fifty-three simple sequence repeats were identified in the four quadrant structural regions. The region between the ndhC and trnV-UAC genes could be useful as a genetic marker to distinguish between R. sceleratus populations from Republic of Korea and China. The Ranunculus species formed a single lineage. To differentiate between Ranunculus species, we identified 16 hotspot regions and confirmed their potential using specific barcodes based on phylogenetic tree and BLAST-based analyses. The ndhE, ndhF, rpl23, atpF, rps4, and rpoA genes had a high posterior probability of codon sites in positive selection, while the amino acid site varied between Ranunculus species and other genera. Comparison of the Ranunculus genomes provides useful information regarding species identification and evolution that could guide future phylogenetic analyses.

Therapeutic Potential of Ranunculus Species (Ranunculaceae): A Literature Review on Traditional Medicinal Herbs

The genus Ranunculus includes approximately 600 species and is distributed worldwide. To date, several researchers have investigated the chemical and biological activities of Ranunculus species, and my research team has found them to have antimalarial effects. This review is based on the available information on the traditional uses and pharmacological studies of Ranunculus species. The present paper covers online literature, particularly from 2010 to 2021, and books on the ethnopharmacology and botany of Ranunculus species. Previous studies on the biological activity of crude or purified compounds from Ranunculus species, including R. sceleratus Linn., R. japonicus Thunb., R. muricatus Linn., R. ternatus Thunb., R. arvensis Linn., R. diffusus DC., R. sardous Crantz, R. ficaria Linn., R. hyperboreus Rotlb., and R. pedatus Waldst. & Kit., have provided new insights into their activities, such as antibacterial and antiprotozoal effects as well as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of plants used in traditional medicine applications have been confirmed. Therefore, there is a need for more diverse studies on the chemical and pharmacological activities of highly purified molecules from Ranunculus species extracts to understand the mechanisms underlying their activities and identify novel drug candidates.

Anti-inflammatory activity of ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts from Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. and their phenolic profile

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The members of the genus Ranunculus have counter-irritating properties and thus, they are traditionally used for treating anti-inflammatory disorders and other skin conditions. Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. is a wild medicinal plant growing in Algeria and traditionally used to treat some cutaneous skin disorders.

AIM

The aim of this study was to characterize the composition of the ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts from Ranunculus macrophyllus Desf. as well as to elucidate and to compare their effect against acute skin inflammation. Moreover, both the antioxidant activity and the acute toxicity of the plant extracts were also studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods were employed to identify and quantify phenolic compounds and triterpenoids from R. macrophyllus Desf. fractions. The antioxidant activity was estimated using the phosphomolebdenum, DPPH, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assays. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts were screened for their anti-inflammatory activities using ex-vivo membrane stabilizing assays and in-vivo acute skin inflammation model.

RESULTS

Ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest amounts of total phenolic compounds (413 ± 4 μg GAE/mg extract) and triterpenoids (70.4 ± 1.8 μg UAE/mg extract). Rutin, hesperidin, myricetin and kaempferol were the major compounds identified in the different fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction exhibited strong DPPH^• radical scavenging ability (IC₅₀ 1.6 ± 0.2 μg/mL), high total antioxidant capacity (447 ± 7 μg AAE/mg extract) and reducing power (514 ± 8 μg AAE/mg extract). Ethyl acetate fraction inhibited (73.4 ± 0.3) % of linoleic acid peroxidation. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions did not have any visible toxicity at 2000 mg/kg and presented excellent membrane stabilizing ability. The inhibition of xylene induced ear inflammation was (38 ± 4) % and (46 ± 1) % for RM-B and RM-EA, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The high content of both phenolic compounds and triterpenoids combined with the remarkable anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts from R. macrophyllus Desf. support the wide spread use of this traditional plant on some skin disorders (inflammatory skin disorders).

TianJiu therapy for α-naphthyl isothiocyanate-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in rats treated with fresh Ranunculus sceleratus L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

TianJiu (TJ) therapy, one type of cold moxibustion, applies to specific acupuncture points with herbal patches of hot nature, providing a constant irritant to the skin until the presence of hyperemia and blistering. Traditional and clinical reports suggest that TJ is an effective therapy for the treatment of jaundice with fresh Ranunculus sceleratus L. (RS), in which protoanemonin is one of the main irritant constituents. However, the therapeutic effect of TJ treatment with fresh RS against intrahepatic cholestasis has not been studied in animal experiments.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of TJ treatment with fresh RS against intrahepatic cholestasis in rats and provide an experimental basis for the underlying mechanism of TJ therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male intrahepatic cholestatic Sprague-Dawley rats induced by 2% α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 80 mg/kg B.W.) were treated by TJ therapy with fresh RS. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bilirubin (TBIL), total bile acid (TBA), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric monoxide (NO), as well as hepatic body ratio, bile flow and hepatic histopathological assay were measured and evaluated to investigate the therapeutic effect of TJ treatment with fresh RS. Phytochemical analysis of fresh and dried RS was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS).

RESULTS

After TJ treatment with fresh RS, the abnormally elevated levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP, DBIL, TBIL and TBA, as well as hepatic MDA and NO at 108 h were reduced significantly (versus model group, P < 0.01). The hepatic body ratio, bile flow and hepatic pathological change of cholestatic rats at 108 h in TJ group were restored when compared with those of model group. Thirty-one compounds including lactones, flavonoids and phenolic acids were identified and determined by GC-MS analysis. The content of protoanemonin in fresh RS (9.49%) was about 25-fold higher than that in dried RS (0.38%).

CONCLUSIONS

TJ treatment with fresh RS exhibited good therapeutic effect on ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in rats, which may be due to the attenuated oxidative stress in the liver tissue. It is rational for the ancients to choose fresh RS as TJ herbal patches because of its abundant protoanemonin with the character of irritant. The qualitative and quantitative results of GC-MS analysis provided the chemical basis of TJ therapy with fresh RS, which can be regarded as a simple and efficient method for the treatment of cholestasis hepatitis.

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi ( Aroeira) leaves oil attenuates inflammatory responses in cutaneous wound healing in mice 1

PURPOSE

To investigated the inflammatory, angiogenic and fibrogenic activities of the Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi leaves oil (STRO) on wound healing.

METHODS

The excisional wound healing model was used to evaluate the effects of STRO. The mice were divided into two groups: Control, subjected to vehicle solution (ointment lanolin/vaseline base), or STRO- treated group, administered topically once a day for 3, 7 and 14 days post-excision. We evaluated the macroscopic wound closure rate; the inflammation was evaluated by leukocytes accumulation and cytokine levels in the wounds. The accumulation of neutrophil and macrophages in the wounds were determined by assaying myeloperoxidase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activities. The levels of TNF-α, CXCL-1 and CCL-2 in wound were evaluated by ELISA assay. Angiogenesis and collagen fibers deposition were evaluated histologically.

RESULTS

We observed that macroscopic wound closure rate was improved in wounds from STRO-group than Control-group. The wounds treated with STRO promoted a reduction in leucocyte accumulation and in pro-inflammatory cytokine. Moreover, STRO treatment increased significantly the number of blood vessels and collagen fibers deposition, as compared to control group.

CONCLUSION

Topical application of STRO display anti-inflammatory and angiogenic effects, as well as improvement in collagen replacement, suggesting a putative use of this herb for the development of phytomedicines to treat inflammatory diseases, including wound healing.

Skin Wound Healing Potential and Mechanisms of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Leaves and Oleoresin of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. Kuntze in Rats

The wound healing is a complex process which, sometimes, can be a problem in public health because of the possibility of physical disability or even death. Due to the lack of a gold standard drug in skin wound treatment and aiming at the discovery of new treatments in skin repair and the mechanisms involved in the process, we used oleoresin (OR) from Copaifera langsdorffii and hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves (EH) to treat rat skin wounds. For that, male Wistar rats were divided into groups (n = 8): Lanette, Collagenase, 10% EH, or 10% OR and, after anesthesia, one wound of 2 cm was made in the back of animals. The wounds were treated once a day for 3, 7, or 14 days and the wound areas were measured. The rats were euthanized and skin samples destined to biochemical, molecular, and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed a macroscopic retraction of the wounds of 10% EH and 10% OR creams and both treatments showed anti-inflammatory activity. Molecular and immunohistochemical results demonstrated the activity of Copaifera langsdorffii creams in angiogenesis, reepithelialization, wound retraction, and remodeling mechanisms.

Anticancer Chemodiversity of Ranunculaceae Medicinal Plants: Molecular Mechanisms and Functions

The buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, comprising more than 2,200 species in at least 62 genera, mostly herbs, has long been used in folk medicine and worldwide ethnomedicine since the beginning of human civilization. Various medicinal phytometabolites have been found in Ranunculaceae plants, many of which, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and polysaccharides, have shown anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo. Most concerns have been raised for two epiphany molecules, the monoterpene thymoquinone and the isoquinoline alkaloid berberine. At least 17 genera have been enriched with anti-cancer phytometabolites. Some Ranunculaceae phytometabolites induce the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cancer cells or enhance immune activities, while others inhibit the proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis, or reverse the multi-drug resistance of cancer cells thereby regulating all known hallmarks of cancer. These phytometabolites could exert their anti-cancer activities via multiple signaling pathways. In addition, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion/toxicity properties and structure/activity relationships of some phytometabolites have been revealed assisting in the early drug discovery and development pipelines. However, a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms and functions of Ranunculaceae anti-cancer phytometabolites is lacking. Here, we summarize the recent progress of the anti-cancer chemo- and pharmacological diversity of Ranunculaceae medicinal plants, focusing on the emerging molecular machineries and functions of anti-cancer phytometabolites. Gene expression profiling and relevant omics platforms (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) could reveal differential effects of phytometabolites on the phenotypically heterogeneous cancer cells.

Systematic investigation of ethanolic extract from Leea macrophylla: Implications in wound healing

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Leea macrophylla Roxb. ex Hornem. (Leeaceae) commonly known as Hastikarnapalasa is mainly distributed throughout the tropical parts of India. Traditionally, the plant is found to be effective against guinea worm, ringworm and is applied to sores and wounds.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aims to validate traditional wound healing claim of Leea macrophylla scientifically.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the extraction process. The optimized root tuber extract of Leea macrophylla was standardized with chlorogenic acid by HPLC for the first time. Both oral and topical routes were selected as administrative means for the wound healing study using excision and incision wound model. For topical treatment bioadhesive gel was formulated and characterized for mechanical and physical characteristics by texture profile analysis (TPA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect on wound healing was also assessed by evaluating antioxidant enzymes viz. glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), free radicals lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO), inflammatory marker myeloperoxidase (MPO), collagen markers hydroxyproline, hexosamine and hexuronic acid along with the histopathological examination. Furthermore, the effect on the level of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin -6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined. The expression of cell proliferation nuclear marker Ki-67 was also analyzed by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

With mesh openings Sieve no. 20, semi polar nature of solvent (92.5:7.5 ethanol-water blend) and extraction time of 18h, substantially greater extraction efficiency (29%) and phenolic yield (181.54mg/g) were obtained. The content of chlorogenic acid in ethanol extracts of Leea macrophylla was obtained as 9.01% w/w. In incision model, oral treatment with 500mg/kg ethanolic extract increased wound breaking strength by 23.41% while bioadhesive gel (5% w/v) showed a higher increase of 44.68%. Topical application produced complete wound contraction in 20 days against 22 days taken by oral treatment. Topical treatment also produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in antioxidants glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase whereas the level of enzymes lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide and inflammatory markers myeloperoxidase were reduced. Further advantageous effects were reflected by significantly (p<0.05) increased levels of hydroxyproline, hexosamine and hexuronic acid. Favorable effects on the level of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor - α and growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor were also observed. The wound healing potential of Leea macrophylla was further supported by its ability to promote cell proliferation during wound healing as demonstrated by Western blot analysis of proliferation marker Ki-67.

CONCLUSION

The study justified traditional use of Leea macrophylla in wound healing and demonstrated that the bioadhesive gel of ethanolic extract produced faster and more significant healing as compared to oral treatment.

Anti-hyperbilirubinemic and wound healing activity of aqueous extract of Calotropis procera leaves in Wistar rats

Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bilirubin lowering and wound healing property of aqueous extract of Calotropis procera (AECP) leaves in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods:

Albino Wistar rats of either sex were used for the study. Bilirubin lowering property of C. procera leaves was evaluated using phenylhydrazine and paracetamol as inducing agents followed by measuring the concentration of serum total bilirubin in hyperbilirubinemic rats. Wound healing property was evaluated using incision and excision models by measuring tensile breaking strength, percentage wound contractions, and epithelization days, respectively.

Statistical Analysis:

Statistical comparison between groups in each experiment was done with one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's test.

Results:

AECP showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in concentrations of serum total bilirubin in hyperbilirubinemic rats as well as significant (P < 0.05) increase in breaking strength and percentage wound contractions with decreased epithelization period when compared to control groups.

Conclusions:

AECP showed significant bilirubin lowering and wound healing property in Wistar rats.

An assessment of wound healing potential of Argyreia speciosa leaves

In North India, poultice of young unfolded leaves of Argyreia speciosa Linn. (Convolvulaceae) is used for healing wounds. In order to find scientific evidence for the traditional utilization of leaves of A. speciosa in wound healing, this investigation was carried out. A linear incision wound of about 3 cm in length and 2 mm in depth and circular excision wound of 177 mm(2) full thickness were made on the dorsal region of separate groups (n = 5) of anesthetized Swiss albino mice. A simple ointment, developed by including ethanol, ethanol-water, and water extracts (10% each, separately) of A. speciosa, was applied topically to mice once daily for 14 days after wounding. To evaluate the effect of each extract, wound contraction, epithelization period, wound breaking strength, and hydroxyproline content were determined. The water extract of A. speciosa showed accelerated wound healing activity as evidenced by fast wound contraction (96.30 ± 0.52%; P < 0.01), rapid epithelization period (11.40 ± 0.60 days; P < 0.001), greater wound breaking strength (376.56 ± 21.16 g; P < 0.001), and higher hydroxyproline content (16.49 ± 1.12 mg/g; P < 0.05) of granulation tissue. The present report supports the traditional use of Argyreia speciosa leaves for wound healing and signify its relevant therapeutic potential.

[Rapid determination of fatty acids in Ranunculus ternatus Thunb by microwave-ultrasonic synergistic one-step extraction-derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry]

A rapid and simple microwave-ultrasonic synergistic one-step extraction-derivatization (MUED) method and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was established for the determination of low content fatty acids (FAs) profile in Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. The critical experimental parameters for MUED method were optimized with response surface methodology by taking the chromatographic peak areas of total FAs as a major response index. The best technological parameters were determined as 5.0 g of Ranunculus ternatus Thunb. powder, 50.0 mL of n-hexane, 500 W of microwave power, 50 degree C of reaction temperature, 0.30 g of catalyst (KOH), 4.0 mL of derivatization reagent (methanol) and the time of extraction-derivatization of 8 min. The contents of individual FAs were quantified by internal standard method. The results showed that the chromatographic peak areas of the total FAs and the total unsaturated FAs contents obtained with MUED were (3.327 +/- 0.023) x 10(7) (n = 3) and (13.59 +/- 0.30) mg/g (n = 3) respectively. They were markedly higher than those obtained by the conventional method which were (2.410 +/- 0.036) x 10(7) (n = 3) and (12.05 +/- 0.34) mg/g (n = 3) respectively. The MUED method simplified the complicated sample handling steps, shortened the sample preparation time, reduced the cost of analysis, and improved the extraction and derivatization efficiency of the lipids, especially weakened the oxidization and decomposition of the unsaturated FAs. The simplicity, speed and practicability suggest the proposed method has significant potential for the determination of lowcontent FAs in herbal medicines.