Wound healing activity of latex of Euphorbia caducifolia

Effect of 'Procumbenase' a serine protease from Tridax procumbens aqueous extract on wound healing: A scar free healing of full thickness wounds

Wound healing involves several cellular and molecular pathways. Tridax procumbens activates genetic pathways with antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, aiding wound healing. This study purified Procumbenase, a serine protease from T. procumbens extract, using gel filtration (Sephadex G-75) and ion exchange (CM-Sephadex C-50) chromatography. Characterization involved analyses of protease activity, RP-HPLC, SDS-PAGE, gelatin zymogram, PAS staining, mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism. Optimal pH and temperature were determined. Protease type was identified using inhibitors. Wound-healing potential was evaluated through tensile strength, wound models, hydroxyproline estimation, and NIH 3T3 cell scratch analysis. In incision wound rat models, Procumbenase increased tensile strength on day 14 more than saline and Povidone‑iodine. It increased wound contraction by 89 % after 10 days in excision wound models, attaining full contraction by day 15 and closure by day 21. Scarless wound healing was enhanced by 18 days of epithelialization against 22 and 21 days for saline and povidone‑iodine. Procumbenase increased hydroxyproline concentration 2.53-fold (59.93 ± 2.89 mg/g) compared to saline (23.67 ± 1.86 mg/g). In NIH 3 T3 cell scratch assay, Procumbenase increased migration by 60.93 % (50 μg) and 60.57 % (150 μg) after 48 h. Thus, Procumbenase is the primary bioactive molecule in T. procumbens, demonstrates scar-free wound healing properties.

Euphorbia species latex: A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and biological activities

The genus Euphorbia includes about 2,000 species commonly widespread in both temperate and tropical zones that contain poisonous milky juice fluid or latex. Many species have been used in traditional and complementary medicine for the treatment of various health issues such as dropsy, paralysis, deafness, wounds, warts on the skin, and amaurosis. The medicinal applications of these species have been attributed to the presence of various compounds, and most studies on Euphorbia species have focused on their latex. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on chemical composition and biological activities of the latex from various species of the genus Euphorbia. Our aim was to explore the applications of latex extracts in the medical field and to evaluate their ethnopharmacological potential. The databases employed for data collection, are obtained through Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus, from 1983 to 2022. The bibliographic data indicate that terpenoids are the most common secondary metabolites in the latex. Furthermore, the latex has interesting biological properties and pharmacological functions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, free radical scavenger, cytotoxic, tumor, anti-inflammatory, healing, hemostatic, anti-angiogenic, insecticidal, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities. However, the role of other components in the latex, such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids, remains unknown, which limits the application of the latex. Future studies are required to optimize the therapeutic use of latex extracts.

In-silico Screening of Phytoconstituents on Wound Healing Targets-Approaches and Current Status

Over recent years, there has been tremendous research focused on the effective utilization of natural products in wound management. Natural or herbal products contain several phytoconstituents that may act on various stages in wound healing and thereby provide a multi-targeted approach especially in the treatment of chronic wounds. Currently, attempts have been made to screen the phytoconstituents present in herbs on various targets involved in wound healing. This review includes a systematic evaluation of scientific reports by various groups of researchers on the herbals evaluated for wound management, their phytochemical profiling, pre-clinical studies, and molecular modeling studies. Various wound targets discussed include Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ-4) that regulate the early inflammatory stage and the novel T cell immune response cDNA 7(TIRC7) that regulates angiogenesis. Also, neuropeptides P and Y act on the inflammatory, migratory, and proliferation phases, and growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor family (VEGF) and placental growth factor family (PGF) are involved in angiogenesis, while the role of Fibroblast growth factor in tissue remodeling is discussed. As many of the natural products include polyherbal systems, this approach can help in the judicious selection of a combination of herbs that will act on multiple targets in the wound healing process and provide a multi-factorial approach in wound management.

Thrombin- and plasmin-like and platelet-aggregation-inducing activities of Plumeria alba L. latex: Action of cysteine protease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In folk medicine, parts of Plumeria alba L. are used for the treatment of many diseases, with its latex being used for curing skin diseases and promoting wound healing.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to study the role of P. alba L. latex in hemostasis and platelet aggregation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The latex of P. alba L. was processed to remove waxes and enrich protein content, and the final extract was named Plumeria alba L. natant latex (PaNL). PaNL was analyzed for protease activity against casein. The type of protease in PaNL was identified by using protease inhibitors such as E-64, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and pepstatin A. Human fibrinogen, fibrin, and collagen types I and IV were subjected to hydrolysis with different concentrations of PaNL. The thrombin-like activity of PaNL was determined by analyzing its fibrinogen-clotting and procoagulant activities. The role of PaNL in platelet aggregation was also investigated. Its hemorrhagic and edema-inducing activities were evaluated in a mouse model. Phytochemical compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy.

RESULTS

The findings of casein/gelatin zymography confirmed that PaNL possesses protease activity. The results of the protease inhibition study indicated the presence of a cysteine-type protease(s) in PaNL. PaNL hydrolyzed the subunits of fibrinogen, fibrin, and collagen types I and IV. Its fibrin-degradation activity indicated that PaNL possesses plasmin-like activity. PaNL induced clotting of citrated human plasma within 3 min of incubation in the absence of CaCl_2, indicating the presence of thrombin-like activity, which was further confirmed by the results of the fibrinogen-clotting assay. PaNL induced platelet aggregation in the absence of agonists. There was no hemolytic activity. Mice injected with PaNL did not show edema/ hemorrhagic activity.

CONCLUSION

PaNL possesses procoagulant, fibrino(geno)lytic, thrombin- and plasmin-like activities and induces platelet aggregation, which could explain its usage for wound treatment in folk medicine.

Management of Padadari (cracked feet) with Rakta Snuhi (Euphorbia caducifolia Haines.) based formulation: An open-labeled clinical study

Introduction

Ayurveda considers, Padadari (cracked feet) as disease condition, under Kshudra Kushtha (minor diseases of skin). Cracked feet also known as heel fissures is a common foot problem characterized by yellowish color of the skin on the heel of the foot, hard skin growth, hardening and cracks in the feet associated with pain, bleeding or itching. Vaidya Manorama, Ayurvedic compendia, recommended Snuhi oil as a remedy for Padadari. An open-labeled clinical trial has been conducted to evaluate the effect of Rakta Snuhi-based formulation in Padadari.

Materials and Methods

Snuhi oil was prepared by mixing Saindhava Lavana (Rock salt) 24 g; 300 ml latex of Rakta Snuhi (Euphorbia caducifolia); 4.8 l. of water, Sarshapa Taila (mustard oil) 1.2 l. and further heating of oil, following classical guidelines of Sneha Kalpana. For better acceptability, the medicated oil was then gradually mixed with "Aerosil," a thickener, for converting the mixture into gel form. Twenty-six patients, diagnosed with Padadari, were treated by applying 3 g (or as per requirement) of Rakta Snuhi Ksheera gel twice daily for 21 consecutive days.

Results

Response to the treatment was recorded on a weekly basis and therapeutic effect was evaluated through symptomatic relief.

Conclusion

The study yielded statistically highly significant results in symptoms such as cracks associated with pain (P < 0.001), Rukshata (dryness) (P < 0.001) and Kandu (itching) (P < 0.001).

In vivo wound-healing activity of Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii: Isolation and quantification of quercetin glycosides as bioactive compounds

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The latex and the aerial parts of Euphorbia characias L. (Euphorbiaceae) have been used as medicinal plant to treat wounds and warts in traditional medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The effect of the plant extract was tested in vivo and in vitro with experimental models to find scientific evidence for traditional use in wound healing. Potentially active wound-healer compounds were isolated from the active fraction using fractionation procedures under the guidance of biological assay and the possible role of the compounds in the wound healing process was also determined.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

N-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts were successively prepared from the aerial parts of E. characias subsp. wulfenii. The extracts were tested with linear incision, circular excision wound models and the hydroxyproline assay method to assess the wound-healing activity. The inhibition of the increase in capillary permeability induced by acetic acid, an acute inflammation model, was used to assay the anti-inflammatory activity. Different chromatographic separation techniques on sephadex and silica gel columns, and bioassay guided assay techniques have been used to isolate the active compounds of the plant. Moreover, hyaluronidase, collagenase and elastase enzymes inhibitory effect of active principle were investigated in vitro to find out the mechanism of action.

RESULTS

The methanol (MeOH-ex) extract of the aerial parts of E. characias subsp. wulfenii showed significant wound healing activity (linear incision wound model: 43.04%; circular excision wound model 65.24%) and anti-inflammatory activity (34.74%). The methanol extract was separated into its fractions by column chromatography for isolation of efficient compounds. Biological activity of the fractions were assessed and further isolation and purification processes have been carried out in the active fraction. Isolation studies were carried out from the MeOH-ex fraction to obtain active constituents and their structures were elucidated to be quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin), quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside), and quercetin-3-O-arabinoside (guaijaverin). Further in vitro and in vivo assays showed that quercetin derivatives were responsible for the wound-healing activity of the plant, and also found to be significant anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activities. The amounts of three compounds, isolated from active fraction, were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. Calibration equation was calculated with dilutions, prepared from pure substances, and assay was performed in total extract, prepared from E. characias subsp. wulfenii. It was detected that the plant had 1.22% quercitrin, 0.35% hyperoside, and 0.11% guaijaverin. The validation of the analytical method was performed by linearity, precision, limit of detection, and limit of quantification parameters.

CONCLUSION

Present study supported the traditional use of the aerial parts E. characias subsp. wulfenii as wound healer and quercetin derivatives were isolated as active components from the active fraction by using bioassay-guided fractionation technique.

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.

Polygonum aviculare L. and its active compounds, quercitrin hydrate, caffeic acid, and rutin, activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and induce cutaneous wound healing

Polygonum aviculare L. is a member of the Polygonaceae family of plants, which has been known for its antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. However, the wound healing function of P. aviculare extract has not been assessed. In this study, we identified a novel property of P. aviculare extract as a Wnt/β-catenin pathway activator based on a screen of 350 plant extracts using HEK293-TOP cells retaining the Wnt/β-catenin signaling reporter gene. P. aviculare extract accelerated the migration of HaCaT keratinocytes without showing significant cytotoxicity. Moreover, P. aviculare extract efficiently re-epithelized wounds generated on mice. Additionally, ingredients of P. aviculare extract, such as quercitrin hydrate, caffeic acid, and rutin, also accelerated the motility of HaCaT keratinocytes with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Therefore, based on our findings, P. aviculare extract and its active ingredients could be potential therapeutic agents for wound healing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Gastric healing process with raw extract of Euphorbia tirucalli L.: study in rats

BACKGROUND

The use of plants in the prevention and treatment of disease is age-old practice. The aveloz (Euphorbia tirucalli) is a plant native of Africa and has been associated with antimicrobial, antiulcers, anticarcinogenic, antiviral, healing, anti-helminthic, antisiphilitic effects.

AIM

To analyze the effect of the crude extract of Euphorbia tirucalli L. in the stomach healing process of mice.

METHODS

Sixteen Swiss mice, adult females were subjected to 1 cm longitudinal incision in the gastric body and sutured with 6-0 polypropylene stitches. After the procedure, the animals were randomly divided into two groups of eight animals. These were redistributed into four subgroups: Aveloz (GA7) and Control (CG7) with programmed death for 7th day postoperatively and Aveloz (GA14) and Control (GC14) with programmed death for 14 days postoperatively. The group GA used 1 ml of hydroalcoholic solution of the crude extract of Euphorbia tirucalli at 30 mg/ml orally by gavage route and the CG, 0.9% saline solution at the same volume and route. After death, the inventory of the abdominal cavity was conducted and the stomach removal was performed, fixing in formalin and sent for microscopic analysis. In the comparative analysis between the two groups were evaluated the macroscopic and microscopic parameters of healing.

RESULTS

There were no signs of peritonitis, fistulas or hematomas in the animals. There were adhesions of the stomach, especially with the liver and omentum in the animals at 7 and 14 days postoperatively in both groups. The analysis of histological parameters showed no statistically significant difference between groups in any of the parameters evaluated.

CONCLUSION

The evaluation of the use of the crude extract of Euphorbia tirucalli L. on stomach wound healing in mice showed equivalence in comparison to the control group.

Hancornia speciosa latex for biomedical applications: physical and chemical properties, biocompatibility assessment and angiogenic activity

The latex obtained from Hancornia speciosa is used in folk medicine for treatment of several diseases, such as acne, warts, diabetes, gastritis and inflammation. In this work, we describe the biocompatibility assessment and angiogenic properties of H. speciosa latex and its potential application in medicine. The physical-chemical characterization was carried out following different methodologies (CHN elemental analyses; thermogravimetric analyses and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The biocompatibility was evaluated through cytotoxicity and genotoxicity tests in fibroblast mouse cells and the angiogenic properties were evaluated using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay model. The physical-chemical results showed that the structure of Hancornia speciosa latex biomembrane is very similar to that of Hevea brasiliensis (commercially available product). Moreover, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays showed that H. speciosa latex is biocompatible with life systems and can be a good biomaterial for medical applications. The CAM test showed the efficient ability of H. speciosa latex in neovascularization of tissues. The histological analysis was in accordance with the results obtained in the CAM assay. Our data indicate that the latex obtained from H. speciosa and eluted in water showed significant angiogenic activity without any cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on life systems. The same did not occur with H. speciosa latex stabilized with ammonia. Addition of ammonia does not have significant effects on the structure of biomembranes, but showed a smaller cell survival and a significant genotoxicity effect. This study contributes to the understanding of the potentialities of H. speciosa latex as a source of new phytomedicines.

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.