Exploration of the wound healing potential of Helichrysum graveolens (Bieb.) Sweet: isolation of apigenin as an active component

A comprehensive review of apigenin a dietary flavonoid: biological sources, nutraceutical prospects, chemistry and pharmacological insights and health benefits

A multitude of plant-derived bioactive compounds have shown significant promise in preventing chronic illnesses, with flavonoids constituting a substantial class of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds. Apigenin, a flavone identified as 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone, holds immense promise as a preventative agent against chronic illnesses. Despite its extensive research and recognized nutraceutical value, its therapeutic application remains underexplored, necessitating further clinical investigations. This review delves into the biological sources, nutraceutical prospects, chemistry, pharmacological insights, and health benefits of apigenin. Through multifaceted analytical studies, we explore its diverse pharmacological profile and potential therapeutic applications across various health domains. The manuscript comprehensively examines apigenin's role as a neuroprotective , anti-inflammatory compound, and a potent antioxidant agent. Additionally, its efficacy in combating cardiovascular diseases, anti-diabetic properties, and anticancer potential has been discussed. Furthermore, the antimicrobial attributes and the challenges surrounding its bioavailability, particularly from herbal supplements have been addressed. Available in diverse forms including tablets, capsules, solid dispersions, co-crystals, inclusion complexes and nano formulations. Additionally, it is prevalent as a nutraceutical supplement in herbal formulations. While strides have been made in overcoming pharmacokinetic hurdles, further research into apigenin's clinical effectiveness and bioavailability from herbal supplements remains imperative for its widespread utilization in preventive medicine.

Flavonoids, gut microbiota, and host lipid metabolism

Flavonoids are widely distributed in nature and have a variety of beneficial biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. All of these are related to gut microbiota, and flavonoids also serve as a bridge between the host and gut microbiota. Flavonoids are commonly used to modify the composition of the gut microbiota by promoting or inhibiting specific microbial species within the gut, as well as modifying their metabolites. In turn, the gut microbiota extensively metabolizes flavonoids. Hence, this reciprocal relationship between flavonoids and the gut microbiota may play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and functionality of the metabolism system. In this review, we mainly highlighted the biological effects of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiobesity, and discussed the interaction between flavonoids, gut microbiota and lipid metabolism, and elaborated the potential mechanisms on host lipid metabolism.

HPLC-based cytotoxicity profiling and LC-ESIQTOF-MS/MS analysis of Helichrysum leucocephalum

Introduction

Helichrysum leucocephalum Boiss. (Asteraceae) is an endemic plant to Iran. No reports have studied the cytotoxicity of the plant. The current study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of H. leucocephalum collected from Fars province (Iran) against MCF-7 and HDF cell lines using HPLC-based activity profiling and to annotate the active constituents by LC-ESIQTOF-MS/MS.

Methods

H. leucocephalum was collected from three locations in Fars province. The dried flowers and leaves were separately extracted by percolation using methanol. The crude extracts were fractionated by liquid-liquid partitioning with dichloromethane (DCM) and aqueous methanol. The cytotoxicity of the fractions was evaluated against MCF-7 and HDF cells by Alamarblue assay. HPLC-based activity profiling was used to track the active constituents. LC-MS dereplication strategy was used for the annotation of the compounds in the active time window. LC-MS data were preprocessed by MZmine 3.3.0 and submitted to multivariate analysis to compare the differences and similarities in the metabolites of the samples.

Results

The DCM fractions showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity against the cancerous cells (IC50s, 9.8-105.1 μg/ml). In general, the metabolites of the flowers and their cytotoxicity were higher than the leaves. LCESIMS/MS analyses revealed that prenylated and geranylated α,β-unsaturated spiroketal phloroglucinols were among the active constituents.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that H. leucocephalum is a rich source of phloroglucinol derivatives with cytotoxic activities. Further phytochemical analysis is needed to characterize the bioactive components.

Development and optimization of film forming non-pressurized liquid bandage for wound healing by Box-Behnken statistical design

The goal of the current investigation was to develop a non-pressurized liquid bandage to promote the healing of wounds by using silver sulfadiazine. A three-factor three level box-behnken statistical design was employed to optimize the drug-loaded liquid bandage. Film-forming liquid bandage was developed by using ethyl-cellulose, dibutyl sebacate, and glycerol. For optimization, ethyl cellulose, dibutyl sebacate, and isopropyl myristate were taken as independent variables while tensile strength, water vapor absorption value, and drying time were taken as dependent variables. The film-forming liquid bandage was evaluated for various parameters like tensile strength, water vapor absorption value, drying time, viscosity, pH, in-vitro drug release studies, in-vivo wound healing studies, and stability studies. The optimized formulation was found with the tensile strength of 68.24 ± 0.24 MPa, water vapor absorption value of 2.00 ± 0.25 %, drying time of 1.75 ± 0.14 min, viscosity of 60 ± 0.5 cPs, pH of 6.0 ± 0.5 and good physicochemical properties with satisfactory film-forming ability. The in-vitro study shows that the release of test formulations was better than the marketed formulation. After 6 h of study, the liquid bandage and marketed formulation showed 41.02 % and 29.32 % of drug release respectively. Significant results were obtained for the in-vivo wound healing studies. Upon comparison with the control group (2.61 mm) and marketed formulation (1.44 mm), rats treated with the optimized formulation exhibited a noticeable improvement in wound contraction (0.8 mm). The liquid bandage after three months of stability testing was found to be stable with optimum. The film-forming liquid bandage was found to be an effective alternative to conventional topical preparations as it develops a thin polymeric layer on the wound and the skin around it and improves comfort for the patient by protecting the wound from external factors and physical harm.

Exploring the Traditional Uses of Thymbra capitata Infusion in Algarve (Portugal): Anti-Inflammatory, Wound Healing, and Anti-Aging

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the resolution of infection or tissue damage. In addition, inflammation is considered a hallmark of aging, which in turn compromises wound healing. Thymbra capitata is an aromatic plant, whose infusion is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing agent. In this study, a T. capitata infusion was prepared and characterized by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn and its safety profile determined by the resazurin metabolic assay. The anti-inflammatory potential was revealed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages by assessing nitric oxide (NO) release and levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the interleukin-1β pro-form (pro-IL-1β). Wound-healing capacity was determined using the scratch assay. The activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase was used to unveil the anti-senescent potential, along with the nuclear accumulation of yH2AX and p21 levels. The antiradical potential was assessed by DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays. The infusion contains predominantly rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acids. The extract decreased NO, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β levels. Interestingly, the extract promoted wound healing and decreased β-galactosidase activity, as well as yH2AX and p21 levels. The present work highlights strong antiradical, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing capacities, corroborating the traditional uses ascribed to this plant. We have described, for the first time for this extract, anti-senescent properties.

Recent advancement in bioeffect, metabolism, stability, and delivery systems of apigenin, a natural flavonoid compound: challenges and perspectives

Apigenin is a bioflavonoid compound that is widely present in dietary plant foods and possesses biological activities that protect against immune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Therefore, apigenin is widely used in food and medicine, and increasing attention has been drawn to developing new delivery systems for apigenin. This review highlights the biological effects, metabolism, stability, and bioactivity of apigenin. In addition, we summarized advancements in the delivery of apigenin, which provides some references for its widespread use in food and medicine. Better stability of apigenin may enhance digestion and absorption and provide health benefits. Constructing delivery systems (such as emulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, hydrogels, and liposomes) for apigenin is an effective strategy to improve its bioavailability, but more animal and cell experiments are needed to verify these findings. Developing apigenin delivery systems for food commercialization is still challenging, and further research is needed to promote their in-depth development and utilization.

Nanofibrous Polycaprolactone Membrane with Bioactive Glass and Atorvastatin for Wound Healing: Preparation and Characterization

Skin wound healing is one of the most challenging processes for skin reconstruction, especially after severe injuries. In our study, nanofiber membranes were prepared for wound healing using an electrospinning process, where the prepared nanofibers were made of different weight ratios of polycaprolactone and bioactive glass that can induce the growth of new tissue. The membranes showed smooth and uniform nanofibers with an average diameter of 118 nm. FTIR and XRD results indicated no chemical interactions of polycaprolactone and bioactive glass and an increase in polycaprolactone crystallinity by the incorporation of bioactive glass nanoparticles. Nanofibers containing 5% w/w of bioactive glass were selected to be loaded with atorvastatin, considering their best mechanical properties compared to the other prepared nanofibers (3, 10, and 20% w/w bioactive glass). Atorvastatin can speed up the tissue healing process, and it was loaded into the selected nanofibers using a dip-coating technique with ethyl cellulose as a coating polymer. The study of the in vitro drug release found that atorvastatin-loaded nanofibers with a 10% coating polymer revealed gradual drug release compared to the non-coated nanofibers and nanofibers coated with 5% ethyl cellulose. Integration of atorvastatin and bioactive glass with polycaprolactone nanofibers showed superior wound closure results in the human skin fibroblast cell line. The results from this study highlight the ability of polycaprolactone-bioactive glass-based fibers loaded with atorvastatin to stimulate skin wound healing.

Ethyl gallate isolated from phenol-enriched fraction of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam. Promotes cutaneous wound healing: a scientific validation through bioassay-guided fractionation

The tender shoots of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam. are used ethnomedically by the traditional healers of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka (India) for the treatment of wounds. The current study was aimed at exploring phenol-enriched fraction (PEF) of crude ethanol extract of tender shoots to isolate and characterize the most active bio-constituent through bioassay-guided fractionation procedure. The successive fractionation and sub-fractionation of PEF, followed by in vitro scratch wound, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, yielded a highly active natural antioxidant compound ethyl gallate (EG). In vitro wound healing potentiality of EG was evidenced by a significantly higher percentage of cell migration in L929 fibroblast cells (97.98 ± 0.46% at 3.81 μg/ml concentration) compared to a positive control group (98.44 ± 0.36%) at the 48th hour of incubation. A significantly higher rate of wound contraction (98.72 ± 0.41%), an elevated tensile strength of the incised wound (1,154.60 ± 1.42 g/mm²), and increased quantity of connective tissue elements were observed in the granulation tissues of the 1% EG ointment treated animal group on the 15th post-wounding day. The accelerated wound healing activity of 1% EG was also exhibited by histopathological examinations through Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's trichome, and Toluidine blue-stained sections. Significant up-regulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant contents (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) and down-regulation of oxidative stress marker (lipid peroxidation) clearly indicates the effective granular antioxidant activity of 1% EG in preventing oxidative damage to the skin tissues. Further, in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of EG supports the positive correlation with its enhanced wound-healing activity. Moreover, molecular docking and dynamics for 100 ns revealed the stable binding of EG with cyclooxygenase-2 (-6.2 kcal/mol) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (-4.6 kcal/mol) and unstable binding with tumor necrosis factor-α (-7.2 kcal/mol), suggesting the potential applicability of EG in inflammation and wound treatment.

Effect of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. on Inflammation, Senescence and Cell Migration

Aromatic plants are reported to display pharmacological properties, including anti-aging. This work aims to disclose the anti-aging effect of the essential oil (EO) of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., an aromatic and medicinal plant widely used as a spice, as well as of the hydrodistillation residual water (HRW), a discarded by-product of EO hydrodistillation. The phytochemical characterization of EO and HRW was assessed by GC-MS and HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSⁿ, respectively. The DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays were used to disclose the antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages by assessing NO production, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β protein levels. Cell migration was evaluated using the scratch wound assay, and the etoposide-induced senescence was used to assess the modulation of senescence. The EO is mainly characterized by carvacrol, while the HRW is predominantly characterized by rosmarinic acid. The HRW exerts a stronger antioxidant effect in the DPPH and FRAP assays, whereas the EO was the most active sample in the ABTS assay. Both extracts reduce NO, iNOS, and pro-IL-1β. The EO has no effect on cell migration and presents anti-senescence effects. In opposition, HRW reduces cell migration and induces cellular senescence. Overall, our study highlights interesting pharmacological properties for both extracts, EO being of interest as an anti-aging ingredient and HRW relevant in cancer therapy.

The LC-MS/MS Identification and Analgesic and Wound Healing Activities of Lavandula officinalis Chaix: In Vivo and In Silico Approaches

We earlier emphasized in vivo the lavender plant's (Lavandula officinalis Chaix.) anti-inflammatory and estrogenic activities and described the chemical compositions of its hydro-ethanolic (HE) extract. We used LC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses to profile the phytochemical composition of the HE extract and to assess the analgesic and wound-healing effects of both the hydro-ethanolic (HE) and polyphenolic (LOP) extracts in vivo and in silico. The analgesic activity was studied using two methods: acetic acid and formalin injections in mice. The wound-healing activity was carried out over 25 days using a burn model in rats. In the in silico study, the polyphenols identified in the plant were docked in the active sites of three enzymes: casein kinase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β. The LC-MS/MS identified some phenolic compounds, mainly apigenin, catechin, and myricetin, and the GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 19 volatile compounds with triazole, D-glucose, hydroxyphenyl, and D-Ribofuranose as the major compounds. The HE and LOP extracts showed significant decreases in abdominal writhes, and the higher licking time of the paw (57.67%) was observed using the LOP extract at 200 mg/kg. Moreover, both extracts showed high healing percentages, i.e., 99.31 and 92.88%, compared to the control groups, respectively. The molecular docking showed that myricetin, amentoflavone, apigenin, and catechin are the most active molecules against the three enzyme receptors. This study sheds light on the potential of L. officinalis Chaix as a source of natural products for pharmaceutical applications for analgesic purposes as well as their utility in promoting burn-healing activity.

Attenuation of dermal wounds through topical application of ointment containing phenol enriched fraction of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam

Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam. is one of the important medicinal plants used by the traditional healers of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka (India) for treating wounds. In our previous study ethanol extract of the plant was evaluated for its wound healing activity. In continuation, the present study was aimed to evaluate the phenol enriched fraction (PEF) of ethanol extract for wound healing activity along with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The potent wound healing activity of PEF was evidenced by observation of increased rate of cell migration in L929, 3T3L1 and L6 cells (92.59 ± 1.53%, 98.42 ± 0.82% and 96.63 ± 0.61% respectively) at 7.81 μg/ml doses in assays carried out in vitro. Significantly enhanced rate of wound contraction (97.92 ± 0.41%), tensile strength (973.67 ± 4.43 g/mm2), hydroxyproline (31.31 ± 0.64 mg/g) and hexosamine (8.30 ± 0.47 mg/g) contents were observed on 15th post wounding day in 5% PEF treated animals. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic cellular antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione) were upregulated (15.89 ± 0.17 U/mg, 48.30 ± 4.60 U/mg and 4.04 ± 0.12 μg/g respectively) with the administration of 5% PEF. The significant antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities support the positive correlation of PEF with its enhanced wound healing activity. PEF contains expressive amounts of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (578.28 ± 2.30 mg GAE/g and 270.76 ± 2.52 mg QE/g). Of the various chemicals displayed in RP-UFLC-DAD analysis of PEF, gallic acid (68.08 μg/mg) and ethyl gallate (255.91 μg/mg) were predominant. The results indicate that PEF has great potential for the topical management of open wounds.

Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds from Bacopa procumbens and Their Effects on Wound-Healing Process

Wounds represent a medical problem that contributes importantly to patient morbidity and to healthcare costs in several pathologies. In Hidalgo, Mexico, the Bacopa procumbens plant has been traditionally used for wound-healing care for several generations; in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of bioactive compounds obtained from a B. procumbens aqueous fraction and to determine the key pathways involved in wound regeneration. Bioactive compounds were characterized by HPLC/QTOF-MS, and proliferation, migration, adhesion, and differentiation studies were conducted on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Polyphenolic compounds from Bacopa procumbens (PB) regulated proliferation and cell adhesion; enhanced migration, reducing the artificial scratch area; and modulated cell differentiation. PB compounds were included in a hydrogel for topical administration in a rat excision wound model. Histological, histochemical, and mechanical analyses showed that PB treatment accelerates wound closure in at least 48 h and reduces inflammation, increasing cell proliferation and deposition and organization of collagen at earlier times. These changes resulted in the formation of a scar with better tensile properties. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR molecular analyses demonstrated that treatment induces (i) overexpression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and (ii) the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2, suggesting the central role of some PB compounds to enhance wound healing, modulating TGF-β activation.

Therapeutic Potential of Leaves from Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L. G. Lohmann: Botanical Aspects, Phytochemical and Biological, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant and Healing Action

Plants of the species Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L. G. Lohmann (Bignoniaceae), which are widely distributed in Brazil and named crajiru in the state of Amazonas, are known in folk medicine as a traditional medicine in the form of a tea for the treatment of intestinal colic, diarrhea, and anemia, among other diseases. The chemical analysis of extracts of the leaves has identified phenolic compounds, a class of secondary metabolites that provide defense for plants and benefits to the health of humans. Several studies have shown the therapeutic efficacy of F. chica extracts, with antitumor, antiviral, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities being among the therapeutic applications already proven. The healing action of F. chica leaf extract has been demonstrated in several experimental models, and shows the ability to favor the proliferation of fibroblasts, which is essential for tissue repair. The anti-inflammatory activity of F. chica has been clearly demonstrated by several authors, who suggest that it is related to the presence of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, which is capable of inhibiting pro-inflammatory pathways such as the kappa B (NF-kB) nuclear transcription factor pathway. Another important effect attributed to this species is the antioxidant effect, attributed to phenolic compounds interrupting chain reactions caused by free radicals and donating hydrogen atoms or electrons. In conclusion, the species Fridericia chica has great therapeutic potential, which is detailed in this paper with the objective of encouraging new research and promoting the sum of efforts for the inclusion of herbal medicines in health systems around the world.

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.

Multiple Bioactivities of Manihot esculenta Leaves: UV Filter, Anti-Oxidation, Anti-Melanogenesis, Collagen Synthesis Enhancement, and Anti-Adipogenesis

The cassava root is an important global agro-industrial crop that yields cassava leaf as a left-over co-product of interest for further development as a sustainable resource of health and cosmeceutical active compounds. This work aimed to investigate the cosmeceutical potential and chemical composition of an ethanolic cassava leaf extract (BM). rutin, apigenin, and kaempferol were found to be major constituents via HPLC-DAD UV analysis. Interestingly, the multiple beneficial bioactivities of BM for cosmeceutical applications were manifested in a dose-dependent manner, including anti-oxidation in a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, anti-melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, collagen synthesis enhancement in human fibroblasts, and anti-adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, the potential of the collagen synthesis enhancement of BM and rutin was significant when compared to ascorbic acid. Additionally, a UV filter property comparable to BEMT with characteristics of board spectral absorption and constant high absorptivity throughout all UV wavelength ranges was exhibited by UV-visible spectrophotometric analysis. In conclusion, the cassava leaf was found to be a potential natural cosmeceutical active agent with multiple cosmeceutical-related bioactivities with respect to a substantial composition of bioactive flavonols. These obtained data will support and encourage the further study and development of cassava leaves as potential economic and sustainable sources of bioactive agents for health and cosmeceutical applications.

Flavonoids as inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase

Elastase is a proteolytic enzyme belonging to the family of hydrolases produced by human neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells. Human neutrophil elastase is known to play multiple roles in the human body, but an increase in its activity may cause a variety of diseases. Elastase inhibitors may prevent the development of psoriasis, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disorders (including COVID-19), immune disorders, and even cancers. Among polyphenolic compounds, some flavonoids and their derivatives, which are mostly found in herbal plants, have been revealed to influence elastase release and its action on human cells. This review focuses on elastase inhibitors that have been discovered from natural sources and are biochemically characterised as flavonoids. The inhibitory activity on elastase is a characteristic of flavonoid aglycones and their glycoside and methylated, acetylated and hydroxylated derivatives. The presented analysis of structure-activity relationship (SAR) enables the determination of the chemical groups responsible for evoking an inhibitory effect on elastase. Further study especially of the in vivo efficacy and safety of the described natural compounds is of interest in order to gain better understanding of their health-promoting potential.

Phytochemical Screening of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson (Apocynaceae) Latex, In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Incision Wound Repair in Mice

Himatanthus sucuuba, also known as "Bellaco caspi", is a medicinal plant whose latex, stem bark, and leaves possess phenolic acids, lupeol, β-dihydro-plumbericinic acid, plumericin, and plumeride, among other components. Some of these have been linked to such biological activities as antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical compounds of H. sucuuba latex, as well as its in vitro cytotoxicity and wound healing effect in mice. Latex was collected in the province of Iquitos, Peru. Phytochemical analysis was carried out with UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The cytotoxicity was evaluated on two colon tumor cell lines (SW480 and SW620) and non-malignant cells (human keratinocytes, HaCaT, and Chinese hamster ovary, CHO-K1). The mice were distributed into two groups, as follows: Group I-control (n = 10; without treatment); II-(n = 10) H. sucuuba latex; wounds were induced with a scalpel in the dorsal-cervical area and treatments were applied topically twice a day on the incision for 10 days. Molecular docking was carried out on the glycogen synthase kinase 3β protein. Twenty-four chemical compounds were determined, mainly flavonoid-type compounds. Latex did not have a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells with IC₅₀ values of more than 500 µg/mL. The latex had a regenerative effect on wounds in mice. Acacetin-7-O-neohesperidoside had the best docking score of -9.9 kcal/mol. In conclusion, H. sucuuba latex had a wound healing effect in mice, as confirmed by histological study. However, a non-cytotoxic effect was observed on colon tumor cells SW480 and SW620.

Evaluation of cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of Wedelia chinensis and isolation of apigenin as an active compound

Background

Wedelia chinensis has been reported as a folk medicine for the treatment of different diseases including neurodegenerative disease. Although the plant has been studied well for diverse biological activities, the effect of this plant in neurological disorder is largely unknown. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant potential of W. chinensis.

Methods

The extract and fractions of the plant were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity by modified Ellman method. The antioxidant activity was assessed in several in vitro models/assays such as reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid content, scavenging of 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and hydroxyl radical, and inhibition of brain lipid peroxidation. Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods were used to isolate and identify the active compound from the extract.

Results

Among the fractions, aqueous fraction (AQF) and ethylacetate fraction (EAF) exhibited high inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (IC₅₀: 40.02 ± 0.16 μg/ml and 57.76 ± 0.37 μg/ml) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC₅₀: 31.79 ± 0.18 μg/ml and 48.41 ± 0.05 μg/ml). Similarly, the EAF and AQF had high content of phenolics and flavonoids and possess strong antioxidant activity in several antioxidant assays including DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activity. They effectively inhibited the peroxidation of brain lipid in vitro with IC₅₀ values of 45.20 ± 0.10 μg/ml and 25.53 ± 0.04 μg/ml, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between total flavonoids and antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Activity guided chromatographic separation led to the isolation of a major active compound from the EAF and its structure was elucidated as apigenin by spectral analysis.

Conclusions

The potential ability of W. chinensis to inhibit the cholinesterase activity and peroxidation of lipids suggest that the plant might be useful for the management of AD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03373-4.

Potential Effects of Phenolic Compounds That Can Be Found in Olive Oil on Wound Healing

The treatment of tissue damage produced by physical, chemical, or mechanical agents involves considerable direct and indirect costs to health care systems. Wound healing involves a series of molecular and cellular events aimed at repairing the defect in tissue integrity. These events can be favored by various natural agents, including the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The objective of this study was to review data on the potential effects of different phenolic compounds that can also be found in EVOO on wound healing and closure. Results of in vitro and animal studies demonstrate that polyphenols from different plant species, also present in EVOO, participate in different aspects of wound healing, accelerating this process through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties and their stimulation of angiogenic activities required for granulation tissue formation and wound re-epithelialization. These results indicate the potential usefulness of EVOO phenolic compounds for wound treatment, either alone or in combination with other therapies. Human studies are warranted to verify this proposition.

Evaluation the Effects of Helichrysum plicatum Subsp. pseudoplicatum on an In-Vitro Wound Model Using Human Dermal Fibroblast Cells

Wound is tissue damage that occurs in the skin. Helichrysum species (Altınotu) are rich in phenolic compounds used in traditional medicine for wound healing. The main component in their flower head (capitulum) is phenolic compounds. The present study investigates the proliferative, oxidative stress, and wound healing properties of the methanolic extract of Helichrysum plicatum subsp. pseudoplicatum capitulum on a human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell line in this study. H plicatum subsp. pseudoplicatum capitulums were collected in Erzurum, Turkey (altitude 1950 m), dried, pulverized, and extracted with methanol. Firstly, total phenolic contents were determined and secondly, the proliferative effect, oxidative stress activities, and wound healing effects on HDF cells were evaluated by the cell proliferation kit (XTT) test, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) commercial kits, and the scratch experiment by taking microscopic images of the cells at 0, 12, 18, and 24 h, respectively. Total phenolic content was found to be 142.00 ± 0.73 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram (GAE/g) extract. The capitulum extract has a proliferative effect at 0.5 to 10 µg/mL concentrations according to the XTT test results. It was observed that TAS levels significantly increased in the plant extract at the concentration ranges 1 to 10 µg/mL (P < .01). About 1 to 5 µg/mL plant extract started to increase cell migration at the 12 h and significantly closed the wound area at the 24 h. At the doses between 1 to 5 μg/mL, it has the most substantial effect on both cell viability and antioxidant effect, and wound healing was found to be in this concentration range. These findings suggested that the H plicatum subsp. pseudoplicatum capitulum is a valuable source of phenolic content with important antioxidant activity at wound healing and it was concluded that the capitulum extract accelerates wound healing by increasing cell migration in low doses.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and in vivo-in vitro wound healing potential of the Phlomis rigida Labill. extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The preparations of Phlomis aerial parts are used traditionally in Anatolia for wound healing and in inflammatory disorders.

METHODS

For the identification of the active fraction, the air dried aerial parts of Phlomis rigida Labill. were extracted by methanol and fractionated successively by n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate, respectively. The phenolic constituents were characterized by the Folin-Ciocaltheu method; the antioxidant activity was performed by ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by LOX enzyme inhibition, spectrophotometrically as well as cell cultures. The wound healing properties of P. rigida extract gels were studied via in vitro cell culture methods and in vivo by excisional wound model using Balb-c mice. The P. rigida extract was analyzed and characterized by GC-FID, GC-MS, and LC-MS.

RESULTS

The P. rigida methanol extract showed moderate LOX inhibitory at IC₅₀ = 19.5 ± 2.8 μg/mL whereas the antioxidant activity was by DPPH^• IC₅₀ = 0.89 mg/mL, and by ABTS^• IC₅₀ = 0.99 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, a remarkable P. rigida extracts anti-inflammatory activity was observed in the cell culture assay, which was then confirmed by the in vitro wound healing activity applied at 0.125-0.5 mg/mL concentrations, resulting in a dose-dependent increase in wound closure at the final stage. The P. rigida gel formulation was prepared to evaluate the extract in vivo, whereas the experimental results of the new gel formulation supported the findings of the in vitro wound healing activity.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this in vitro and in vivo study suggest that the wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties provide a scientific evidence of the ethnopharmacological application of Phlomis species.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Compositae Family and Its Therapeutic Potential

Compositae is the largest family of flowering plants, with more than 1600 genera and 22 000 species. It has many economic uses in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutics. The literature reports its numerous medicinal benefits and recognized anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, this study evaluated the technological trends of anti-inflammatory activity of Compositae, based on the survey of scientific databases, articles, and patents, as well as the website of the Brazilian National Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), which is responsible for registering and controlling of healthcare and cosmetic products in the Brazil. The survey was conducted between 2008 and 2018, in the databases Science Direct, Lilacs, PubMed, and Web of Science (main collection), as well as the SciELO Citation Index. The patent survey was carried out on the basis of the Derwent Innovations Index, an important source for worldwide patent consultation, which covers 20 y of registered patents. Despite the numerous studies involving species of the Compositae family in different models of anti-inflammatory activity, there are few records of patents or products on the market from these species for that purpose. Some species have a traditional use and are present even in the Phytotherapic Summary of the Brazilian Pharmacopeia. This review confirms the therapeutic potential of Compositae for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs and reinforces the need to develop competencies and reduce technological bottlenecks to promote research and innovation in biodiversity products.

Preparation, characterization and wound healing effect of vaccarin-chitosan nanoparticles

Wound healing is a complex, dynamic and difficult process. Much effort and attempt has been made to accelerate this process. The purpose of this study is to prepare nanoparticles loaded with vaccarin (VAC-NPS)hydrogel and evaluate its effect on promoting wound healing. In the present study, the physicochemical properties of VAC-NPS were characterized. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the morphology of VAC-NPS. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was employed to assessment the biocompatibility of VAC-NPS in vitro. The wound healing function of VAC-NPS hydrogels was evaluated in the full-thickness dermal wound in a rat model. The results indicated that VAC-NPS was spherical like particles with uniform particle size distribution and no obvious aggregation with a diameter of (216.6 ± 10.1)nm. The loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of VAC in the nanoparticles were (14.3 ± 1.2) % and (51.7 ± 1.7) % respectively. MTT assay demonstrated that the VAC-NPS had no cytotoxicity and could promote HUVEC proliferation and migration. In vivo results showed that VAC-NPS promotes wound healing, and the mechanism may be through up-regulating IL-1β and PDGF-BB, promoting angiogenesis. VAC-NPS might have a potential application value for the treatment of the wound healing and a promising performance in bio-medically relevant systems.

Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Antimicrobial Activity of Helichrysum plicatum DC. Various Extracts

Helichrysum plicatum DC. is widely used in folk medicine in treating a variety of health disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of different extraction solvents on the chemical composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activities of H. plicatum. Aerial parts were separately extracted with ethanol, dichloromethane, and sunflower oil. The oil extract (OE) was re-extracted with acetonitrile. A total of 142 compounds were tentatively identified in ethanolic (EE), dichloromethane (DCME), and acetonitrile (ACNE) extracts using HPLC-DAD/ESI-ToF-MS. The dominant compound class in all extracts were α-pyrones, alongside flavonoids in EE, terpenoids in DCME and ACNE, and phloroglucinols in DCME. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay. EE and DCME possessed the most potent radical scavenging capacity. Antimicrobial activity was investigated on eight bacterial, two yeast, and one fungal species. All extracts exhibited high antifungal and notable antibacterial activities compared to control substances, with DCME being the most potent. DCME exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa than the standard chloramphenicol.

Evaluation of wound healing effect of chitosan-based gel formulation containing vitexin

Acute or chronic wounds are one of the most common health problems worldwide and medicinal drugs or traditional remedies are often used in wound healing. Further studies regarding wound treatment are rapidly continuing. Vitexin is a phenolic compound, which is found in many medicinal plants, has different pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant. In the present study, it is aimed to investigate the wound healing effect of formulation prepared as chitosan-based gel with vitexin in vivo and in vitro. Cytotoxicity and wound healing assays were used for in vitro and excisional wound model is used for in vivo studies. Extracted tissues from wound area were histologically examined. Wound healing process was monitored on 7, 14 and 21st days. When wound construction was evaluated, chitosan-based gel formulation containing vitexin demonstrated significant effect compared to control group. Histological examinations demonstrated that skin regeneration was promoted by vitexin formulation. Significant cell proliferation was observed with vitexin/chitosan dispersion in the wound healing assay performed with NIH 3T3 and HaCaT cells. In conclusion, our test substance chitosan-based gel formulation containing vitexin significantly accelerated wound healing both in vivo and in vitro.

Activity evaluation on Ribes species, traditionally used to speed up healing of wounds: With special focus on Ribes nigrum

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ribes species are usually evergreen shrubs, represented by eight species in Turkey. Although they are known for their fruits with commercial importance, their leaves have been used as folk remedy in various areas in Turkey by rural population owing to their wound healing potential.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present study we aimed to assess the wound healing activity of the leaves of Ribes species growing in Turkey, namely, Ribes alpinum L., R. anatolica Behçet, R. petraeum Wulfen, R. multiflorum Kit. ex Romer & Schultes, R. nigrum L., R. orientale Desf., R. rubrum L., R. uva-crispa L.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wounds were surgically induced on the dorsal parts of the rats and mice. Prepared herbal ointments were topically applied onto the wounds once daily. The effects of the extracts were evaluated by measuring the breaking strength and percentage of reduction in wounded area by comparing the results with the registered reference ointment, FITO Krem^®. Histopathological and antioxidant assays were also conducted. Since, R. nigrum was determined to be the most active species, we further investigated the wound healing potential of the subextracts of the methanol extract of R. nigrum leaves.

RESULTS

R. nigrum and R. multiflorum extracts significantly increased wound breaking strength. Significant reduction in the areas was determined for the wounded tissues treated with the ointments of R. nigrum and R. multiflorum extracts. Oxidative Stress Index was found to be lowest for R. orientale, R. nigrum and R. multiflorum. Among the subextracts of R. nigrum, ethyl acetate subextract was found to have promising effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Methanol extracts of leaves of R. nigrum and R. multiflorum demonstrated significant wound healing effect. We can suggest that ethyl acetate subextract of R. nigrum may be a potential candidate to be used for the development of a wound healing agent.

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry characterization, anti-inflammatory effect, wound-healing potential, and hair growth-promoting activity of Algerian Carthamus caeruleus L (Asteraceae)

OBJECTIVES:

The roots of Carthamus caeruleus have been used by the population of Northern Algeria to treat several pathological conditions, including wound healing and hair growth. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, wound-healing potential, and hair growth-promoting activity attributed to C. caeruleus root.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In this study, we have investigated the anti-inflammatory effect using carrageenan-induced paw edema test, evaluated the wound-healing potential by linear incision wound model, and evaluated hair growth activity using in vivo hair growth-promoting test attributed to C. caeruleus root. Preliminary phytochemical screening and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) characterization were also performed.

RESULTS:

It was found that the methanolic extract of C. caeruleus was characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins, sennosides, free quinones, saponins, glycosides, mucilage, and coumarins. The GC/MS analysis could identify 22 compounds and showed that the major chemical constituents were palmitic acid (12.88%), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (12.75%), and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde, (9.19%). The phytoextract strongly inhibited (P < 0.001) paw edema formation in mice. The roots of C. caeruleus also showed a significant (P < 0.05) wound-healing and hair growth-promoting effects.

CONCLUSION:

The results indicate the richness of the roots of the Algerian C. caeruleus in biomolecules. These molecules exhibit an excellent reducing inflammation activity, a wound-healing property, and an interesting hair-promoting growth activity. All in all, the findings promote the usage of the Algerian C. caeruleus as an effective and a safe potential skincare alternative remedy.

African Herbal Remedies with Antioxidant Activity: A Potential Resource Base for Wound Treatment

The use of traditional herbal remedies as alternative medicine plays an important role in Africa since it forms part of primary health care for treatment of various medical conditions, including wounds. Although physiological levels of free radicals are essential to the healing process, they are known to partly contribute to wound chronicity when in excess. Consequently, antioxidant therapy has been shown to facilitate healing of such wounds. Also, a growing body of evidence suggests that, at least, part of the therapeutic value of herbals may be explained by their antioxidant activity. This paper reviews African herbal remedies with antioxidant activity with the aim of indicating potential resources for wound treatment. Firstly, herbals with identified antioxidant compounds and, secondly, herbals with proven antioxidant activity, but where the compound(s) responsible for the activity has not yet been identified, are listed. In the latter case it has been attempted to ascribe the activity to a compound known to be present in the plant family and/or species, where related activity has previously been documented for another genus of the species. Also, the tests employed to assess antioxidant activity and the potential caveats thereof during assessment are briefly commented on.

The Phytochemistry of Cherokee Aromatic Medicinal Plants

Background: Native Americans have had a rich ethnobotanical heritage for treating diseases, ailments, and injuries. Cherokee traditional medicine has provided numerous aromatic and medicinal plants that not only were used by the Cherokee people, but were also adopted for use by European settlers in North America. Methods: The aim of this review was to examine the Cherokee ethnobotanical literature and the published phytochemical investigations on Cherokee medicinal plants and to correlate phytochemical constituents with traditional uses and biological activities. Results: Several Cherokee medicinal plants are still in use today as herbal medicines, including, for example, yarrow (Achillea millefolium), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and blue skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). This review presents a summary of the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and biological activities of Cherokee aromatic and medicinal plants. Conclusions: The list is not complete, however, as there is still much work needed in phytochemical investigation and pharmacological evaluation of many traditional herbal medicines.

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.

Reduced synovial inflammation and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases explicates anti-osteoarthritis activity of polyherbal formulations

OBJECTIVES:

Current osteoarthritis (OA) research experiences an incline toward Ayurveda to attain a complete cure without notable adverse effects. Ayurveda uses natural products, which are known to perform the multi-faceted role, a much demanding approach for OA management. However, lack of scientific evidence is a major drawback hindering their wider use. The present work investigated the anti-arthritic potential of Ashwagandharishta, Balarishta, Dashmoolarishta, and Triphala-extract to establish molecular-evidence for their clinical use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Rabbit synoviocytes were induced using interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 β) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) separately and were further treated with study formulations to test anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant potential, using nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Collagenase inhibition activity was estimated with N-(3-[2-Furyl] acryloyl)-Leu-Gly-Pro-Ala (FALGPA)-substrate and gelatinase spot assays. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison.

RESULTS:

The study formulations were effective against synovitis, oxidative-stress, and inhibiting collagenase. They caused NO reduction in selected concentrations. DA showed the maximum NO decline of 0.02 ± 0 and 0.97 ± 0.62 μM/ml with IL-1 β and LPS induction at 5 and 20 μg/ml concentrations, respectively. Estimated by FALGPA assay, increasing collagenase inhibition was observed as the function of concentration. All formulations showed a significant MDA decline, in dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION:

We assessed the anti-OA efficacy of conventionally prescribed Ayurvedic drugs using relevant biochemical assays. The studied formulations revealed potential to restrain synovitis, cartilage degeneration and to reduce oxidative stress, and the signature OA features. With established molecular authenticity, Ayurvedic drugs can offer a safer and affordable therapeutic option for OA.

Aroma Profile and Essential Oil Composition of Helichrysum species

Essential oils and volatile emission from leaves and flowers of three Helichrysum species ( H. arenarium, H. nudifolium, H. graveolens) were analysed by GC-MS and SPME analysis. A total of 112 components were identified in the EOs representing 92.3–99.9% of the whole oil composition, while 109 constituents were identified in the spontaneous volatile emission accounted for 78.7–98.8% of the total volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Sesquiterpenes represented the main class of constituents in the EOs of the majority studied species. β-caryophyllene was the key compound of H. arenarium and H. nudifolium leaves, even though ( E)-2-hexenal showed high percentage in H. arenarium leaves. H. graveolens EO showed a good amount of diterpenes (cembrene and beyerene), absent in the other species. SPME analyses were carried out for the first time to complete the chemotaxonomic investigation on the volatile organic constituents of these plants.

Aroma Profile and Essential Oil Composition of Helichrysum species

Essential oils and volatile emission from leaves and flowers of three Helichrysum species ( H. arenarium, H. nudifolium, H. graveolens) were analysed by GC-MS and SPME analysis. A total of 112 components were identified in the EOs representing 92.3–99.9% of the whole oil composition, while 109 constituents were identified in the spontaneous volatile emission accounted for 78.7–98.8% of the total volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Sesquiterpenes represented the main class of constituents in the EOs of the majority studied species. β-caryophyllene was the key compound of H. arenarium and H. nudifolium leaves, even though ( E)-2-hexenal showed high percentage in H. arenarium leaves. H. graveolens EO showed a good amount of diterpenes (cembrene and beyerene), absent in the other species. SPME analyses were carried out for the first time to complete the chemotaxonomic investigation on the volatile organic constituents of these plants.

Scaffold of Selenium Nanovectors and Honey Phytochemicals for Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation

Honey is an excellent source of polyphenolic compounds that are effective in attenuating quorum sensing (QS), a chemical process of cell-to-cell communication system used by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to regulate virulence and biofilm formation. However, lower water solubility and inadequate bioavailability remains major concerns of these therapeutic polyphenols. Its therapeutic index can be improved by using nano-carrier systems to target QS signaling potently. In the present study, we fabricated a unique drug delivery system comprising selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs; non-viral vectors) and polyphenols of honey (HP) for enhancement of anti-QS activity of HP against P. aeruginosa PAO1. The developed selenium nano-scaffold showed superior anti-QS activity, anti-biofilm efficacy, and anti-virulence potential in both in-vitro and in-vivo over its individual components, SeNPs and HP. LasR is inhibited by selenium nano-scaffold in-vitro. Using computational molecular docking studies, we have also demonstrated that the anti-virulence activity of selenium nano-scaffold is reliant on molecular binding that occurs between HP and the QS receptor LasR through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Our preliminary investigations with selenium-based nano-carriers hold significant promise to improve anti-virulence effectiveness of phytochemicals by enhancing effective intracellular delivery.

Evaluation of wound healing property of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Caesalpinia mimosoides Lam. is one of the important traditional folk medicinal plants in the treatment of skin diseases and wounds used by healers of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state (India). However scientific validation of documented traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants is an important path in current scenario to fulfill the increasing demand of herbal medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study was carried out to evaluate the claimed uses of Caesalpinia mimosoides using antimicrobial, wound healing and antioxidant activities followed by detection of possible active bio-constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Extracts prepared by hot percolation method were subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis followed by antimicrobial activity using MIC assay. In vivo wound healing activity was evaluated by circular excision and linear incision wound models. The extract with significant antimicrobial and wound healing activity was investigated for antioxidant capacity using DPPH, nitric oxide, antilipid peroxidation and total antioxidant activity methods. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined by Folin-Ciocalteu, Swain and Hillis methods. Possible bio-active constituents were identified by GC-MS technique. RP-UFLC-DAD analysis was carried out to quantify ethyl gallate and gallic acid in the plant extract.

RESULTS

Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed positive results for ethanol and aqueous extracts for all the chemical constituents. The ethanol extract proved potent antimicrobial activity against both bacterial and fungal skin pathogens compared to other extracts. The efficacy of topical application of potent ethanol extract and traditionally used aqueous extracts was evidenced by the complete re-epithelization of the epidermal layer with increased percentage of wound contraction in a shorter period. However, aqueous extract failed to perform a consistent effect in the histopathological assessment. Ethanol extract showed effective scavenging activity against DPPH and nitric oxide free radicals with an expressive amount of phenolic and moderate concentration of flavonoid contents. Ethyl gallate and gallic acid were found to be the probable bio-active compounds evidenced by GCMS and RP-UFLC-DAD analysis.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed the significant antimicrobial, wound healing and antioxidant activities of tender parts of C. mimosoides and proved the traditional folklore knowledge.

Phytochemical and biological studies on Alnus glutinosa subsp. glutinosa, A. orientalis var. orientalis and A. orientalis var. pubescens leaves

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alnus species have been used for the treatment of rheumatism, hemorrhoids and for wound healing in folk medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Aqueous and methanol extracts of A. glutinosa (L.) Gaertner subsp. glutinosa, A. orientalis Decne. var. orientalis and A. orientalis var. pubescens Dippel leaves were evaluated for their wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In vivo wound models of linear incision and circular excision were performed. "Inhibition of acetic acid-induced capillary permeability", "carrageenan-induced hind paw edema" and T"PA-induced ear edema" assays were applied to determine the anti-inflammatory effects. For the antioxidant activity assessment, DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging effect, reducing power and denaturation of nonspecific hydroxyl radical-targeted 2-deoxyribose were used. In vitro inhibitory effects on enzymes hyaluronidase, collagenase and elastase were evaluated. The methanol extract of the leaves of A. glutinosa subsp. glutinosa (MB), the most potent extract, was fractionated by bioassay-guided fractionation technique. The structure of the isolated compound was determined as shikimic acid by using NMR and IR analyses.

RESULTS

MB increased the wound tension by 42.79% value and provided a contraction by 51.58%. Wound tension, contraction capacity and tissue hydroxyproline levels were increased with the application of the fraction EtOAc: MeOH (Fr. D), subfraction D_27-38 and shikimic acid. In the "inhibition of acetic acid-induced capillary permeability" assay, MB, Fr. D, subfraction D_27-38 and shikimic acid inhibited the permeability with significant inhibition values of 30.22%, 32.46%, 38.24% and 27.19%, respectively. In carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model, MB displayed 29.1% inhibition. Likewise, Fr. D, subfraction D_27-38, and shikimic acid were found to exhibit remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Shikimic acid exhibited significant inhibitory effect (38.24%) on the hyaluronidase enzyme.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first and unique study that investigates wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of some Alnus taxons growing in Turkey. According to the results, shikimic acid was found to be the major compound responsible from the activity.

Effect of Topical Administration of Fractions and Isolated Molecules from Plant Extracts on Skin Wound Healing: A Systematic Review of Murine Experimental Models

Background and Purpose. Skin wound healing is a dynamic process driven by molecular events responsible for the morphofunctional repair of the injured tissue. In a systematic review, we analyzed the relevance of plant fractions and isolates on skin wound healing. By revising preclinical investigations with murine models, we investigated if the current evidence could support clinical trials. Methods. Studies were selected in the MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus databases according to the PRISMA statement. All 32 identified studies were submitted to data extraction and the methodological bias was investigated according to ARRIVE strategy. Results. The studies demonstrated that plant fractions and isolates are able to modulate the inflammatory process during skin wound healing, being also effective in attenuating the oxidative tissue damage in the scar tissue and stimulating cell proliferation, neoangiogenesis, collagen synthesis, granulation tissue expansion, reepithelialization, and the wound closure rate. However, we identified serious methodological flaws in all studies, such as the high level of reporting bias and absence of standardized experimental designs, analytical methods, and outcome measures. Conclusion. Considering these limitations, the current evidence generated from flawed methodological animal studies makes it difficult to determine the relevance of herbal medicines to treat skin wounds and derails conducting clinical studies.

Comparative Studies on Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant, Wound Healing and Cytotoxic Activities of Selected Achillea L. Species Growing in Turkey

Turkey is one of the most important centers of diversity for the genus Achillea L. in the world. Keeping in mind the immense medicinal importance of phenols, in this study, three species growing in Turkey, A. coarctata Poir. (AC), A. kotschyi Boiss. subsp. kotschyi (AK) and A. lycaonica Boiss. & Heldr. (AL) were evaluated for their phenolic compositions, total phenolic contents (TPC), antioxidant properties, wound healing potencies on NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Comprehensive LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that AK was distinctively rich in chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, apigenin, hesperidin, rutin, kaempferol and luteolin (2890.6, 987.3, 797.0, 422.5, 188.1, 159.4 and 121.2 µg analyte/g extract, respectively). The findings exhibited a strong correlation between TPC and both free radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Among studied species, the highest TPC (148.00 mg GAE/g extract) and TAC (2.080 UAE), the strongest radical scavenging (EC₅₀ = 32.63 μg/mL), the most prominent wound healing and most abundant cytotoxic activities were observed with AK. The results suggested that AK is a valuable source of flavonoids and chlorogenic acid with important antioxidant, wound healing and cytotoxic activities. These findings warrant further studies to assess the potential of AK as a bioactive source that could be exploited in pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries.

Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxicity and Antimycobacterial Activity of Madeira Archipelago Endemic Helichrysum Dietary and Medicinal Plants

The potential bioactivity of dietary and medicinal endemic Helichrysum plants from Madeira Archipelago was explored, for the first time, in order to supply new information for the general consumer. In vitro antioxidant properties were investigated using DPPH, ABTS(•+), FRAP and β-Carotene assays, and the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were also determined. Although the results generally showed a large variation among the three analyzed plants, the methanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Exception is made for H. devium n-hexane extract that showed good radical scavenger capacity associated to compounds with good reducing properties. In the Artemia salina toxicity assay and antimycobaterial activity, H. devium was the most potent plant with the lowest LD50 at 216.7 ± 10.4 and MIC ≤ 50 μg·mL(-1). Chemometric evaluation (Principal Component Analysis-PCA) showed close interdependence between the ABTS, TPC and TFC methods and allowed to group H. devium samples.