Effects of herbal ointment containing the leaf extracts of Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis) for burn wound healing process on albino rats

Increasing fibroblasts and gingival collagen density in periodontitis rats by using cassava leaf extract

Objectives

Porphyromonas gingivalis, as the main etiology of periodontitis, causes inflammation in the periodontal tissue, which triggers the immune response, fibroblast decline, and collagen destruction, generating attachment loss. Fibroblasts and collagen perform a fundamental role in the repair process of periodontal tissue. This study examined the potential of cassava leaf extract in increasing the quantity of fibroblasts and collagen density in the gingiva of rats with periodontitis.

Methods

A posttest-only control group was used in this study. The experiment involved 24 male Wistar rats divided into four different groups: control group, group induced by P. gingivalis and given aquadest, group induced by P. gingivalis and given metronidazole, and group induced by P. gingivalis and given cassava leaf extract. Gingival tissue was taken after euthanasia, after which histological preparations were made, and fibroblasts and collagen were observed.

Results

One-way analysis of variance revealed that the collagen density and fibroblasts quantity showed a notable difference between each group (p < 0.05), and interestingly, there was no significant difference between metronidazole and cassava leaf extract in the least significant difference test results (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Cassava leaf extract has the potential to increase fibroblast quantity and collagen density in the gingiva of periodontitis rat models.

The Potential of Medicinal Plants and Natural Products in the Treatment of Burns and Sunburn-A Review

Treating burns remains a challenge for modern medicine, especially in developing countries that cannot afford expensive, advanced therapies. This review article summarises clinical and animal model studies of botanical preparations and their mixtures in treating burn wounds and sunburn. Articles available in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar, published in English in 2010-2022, were considered. In the described clinical trials, it was shown that some herbal preparations have better effectiveness in treating burn wounds, including shortening the healing time and reducing inflammation, than the conventional treatment used hitherto. These herbal preparations contained extracts from Albizia julibrissin, Alkanna tinctoria, Aloe vera, Arnebia euchroma, Betula pendula and Betula pubescens, Centella asiatica, Hippophaë rhamnoides, Juglans regia, Lawsonia inermis, and mixtures of Matricaria chamomilla and Rosa canina. Research on animal models shows that many extracts may potentially benefit the treatment of burn wounds and sunburn. Due to the diverse mechanism of action, antibacterial activity, the safety of use and cost-effectiveness, herbal preparations can compete with conventional treatment. The growing interest in alternative medicine and herbal medicine encourages further research. Not only single preparations but also their mixtures should be taken into account because the research conducted so far often suggests a synergistic effect of the ingredients.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Medicinal Plants Used by the Tenggerese Society in Java Island of Indonesia

The archipelagic country of Indonesia is inhabited by 300 ethnic groups, including the indigenous people of Tengger. Based on the reported list of medicinal plants used by the Tengger community, we have reviewed each of them for their phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Out of a total of 41 medicinal plants used by the Tengerrese people, 33 species were studied for their phytochemical and pharmacological properties. More than 554 phytochemicals with diverse molecular structures belonging to different chemical classes including flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and volatiles were identified from these studied 34 medicinal plants. Many of these medicinal plants and their compounds have been tested for various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound healing, headache, antimalarial and hypertension. Five popularly used medicinal plants by the healers were Garcinia mangostana, Apium graveolens, Cayratia clematidea, Drymocallis arguta and Elaeocarpus longifolius. Only A. graviolens were previously studied, with the outcomes supporting the pharmacological claims to treat hypertension. Few unexplored medicinal plants are Physalis lagascae, Piper amplum, Rosa tomentosa and Tagetes tenuifolia, and they present great potential for biodiscovery and drug lead identification.

Wound healing potential of quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside isolated from Pistacia lentiscus distilled leaves in rats model

The development of bioproducts able to accelerate wound healing is an important topic in biomedicine. In the current study, Pistacia lentiscus distilled leaves (PDL) extract and its two isolated glycosylated flavonoids, myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside (MM) and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (QM), were evaluated for their wound healing activity, including evaluation of wound closure, revascularization, wound re-epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition on rat skin samples. Moreover, hydroxyproline content, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and immunohistochemistry study were evaluated on blood and tissues collected from rats on day 14 post-wounding. Results showed that the topical application of PDL (at a concentration of 20 mg/ml) (PDL 20), MM, and QM increased wound healing and decreased inflammatory cells infiltration compared to the negative control group. Moreover, the cutaneous wound tissues treated with PDL 20, MM, and QM exhibited significantly higher hydroxyproline content than the negative control group, which means a high collagen biosynthesis in wound tissues. Indeed, the level of the inflammatory protein CRP is significantly lower in groups treated with MM and QM than in the negative control group. Also, the expression of the pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α and the angiogenesis marker CD-31 in PDL 20, MM, and QM treated groups is lower than in the negative control group. Moreover, MM, and QM induced a good elastase inhibition at 100 µg/ml compared to the standard epigallocatechin gallate. Therefore, PDL 20, MM, and QM could be used as effective cutaneous wound healing agents.

Exopolysaccharide produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RO30 isolated from Romi cheese: characterization, antioxidant and burn healing activity

Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) extracted from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally recognized as safe. They have earned popularity in recent years because of their exceptional biological features. Therefore, the present study main focus was to study EPS-production from probiotic LAB and to investigate their antioxidant and burn wound healing efficacy. Seventeen LAB were isolated from different food samples. All of them showed EPS-producing abilities ranging from 1.75 ± 0.05 to 4.32 ± 0.12 g/l. RO30 isolate (from Romi cheese) was chosen, due to its ability to produce the highest EPS yield (4.23 ± 0.12 g/l). The 16S rDNA sequencing showed it belonged to the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum group and was further identified as L. plantarum RO30 with accession number OL757866. It displayed well in vitro probiotic properties. REPS was extracted and characterized. The existence of COO⁻, OH and amide groups corresponding to typical EPSs was confirmed via FTIR. It was constituted of glucuronic acid, mannose, glucose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 2.2:0.1:0.5:0.1, respectively. The average molecular weight was 4.96 × 10⁴ g/mol. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that the REPS possesses a DPPH radical scavenging ability of 43.60% at 5 mg/ml, reducing power of 1.108 at 10 mg/ml, and iron chelation activity of 72.49% and 89.78% at 5 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml, respectively. The healing efficacy of REPS on burn wound models in albino Wistar rats showed that REPS at 0.5% (w/w) concentration stimulated the process of healing in burn areas. The results suggested that REPS might be useful as a burn wound healing agent.

Anredera cordifolia extract enhances learning and memory in senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice

Learning and memory impairment may result from age-related decline in synaptic plasticity-related proteins in the hippocampus. Therefore, exploration of functional foods capable of ameliorating memory and cognition decline is an interesting endeavor in neuroscience research. We report the effects of Anredera cordifolia (AC) extract on learning and memory deficits in a senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse model, which demonstrate age-related memory deficits and related pathological changes in the brain. After 8 weeks of oral administration of AC extract, the mice were trained in the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) task, and after 7 more weeks, in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) task. Following the completion of behavioral testing, the blood biochemistry parameters, the hippocampal levels of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), PSD95, and NR2A, and the p-cAMP-response element binding (p-CREB)/CREB ratio were measured. The AC-treated group spent more time exploring the novel objects in the NOR task, and showed faster acquisition and better retention in the MWM task than the negative control (CN) group. In addition, AC enhanced the levels of the aforementioned neuronal plasticity-related proteins, and did not affect the blood biochemistry parameters. Therefore, our data suggest that the AC extract may improve learning and memory without causing any noticeable side effects in the body.

Herbal Products for Treatment of Burn Wounds

The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge acquired during preclinical and clinical studies regarding topically used herbal products with burn wound-healing activity. Moreover, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant mechanisms of their action as well as adverse effects of herbal therapy will be also described.

A New Technique for Research on Wound Healing through Extraction of Mandibular Lower Incisors in Wistar Rats

Objective The aim of this study was to explain a new technique for research on wound healing through extraction of mandibular lower incisors in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods Fifty Wistar rats were used from studies using the experimental animal to investigate the effects of wound healing drugs on alveolar bone. The mandibular incisors of the Wistar rats were extracted using a special modified bein and special pulling pliers under general anesthesia. The tooth socket after extraction was closed using a 5.0 suture nylon needle.

Results The results of this technique used in this extraction showed 2% incisor tooth fracture and 3% bleeding, and that all fractured teeth could be removed properly, and bleeding could be stopped after suturing.

Conclusion The new techniques we use can be useful for research on mucosal and alveolar bone healing, specifically finding new types of drugs to accelerate wound healing after alveolar bone post extraction.

Angiogenesis activity of Jatropha curcas L. latex in cream formulation on wound healing in mice

Aim:

The aim of this research was to determine the angiogenesis activity of Jatropha curcas latex in cream formulation on CD34 immune expression during wound healing phase in mice skin.

Materials and Methods:

Amount of 36 2-month-old male mice were used between 30 and 40 g. To surgical procedures, wound skin incision was performed 2.0 cm in length until subcutaneous on the paravertebral of each animal. The treatment was carried under locally anesthetized with procaine cream. All mice were divided into four groups, namely the base cream as control group (A), sulfadiazine 0.1% cream (B), Jatropha curcas latex cream 10% (C), and J. curcas latex cream 15% (D). All groups were treated entire surface of wound. All experiments were performed twice a day for 10 days. Experiments were terminated on days 3, 7, and 10, respectively. The wound healing was assayed in stained histological section in immunohistochemical of the wounds. The CD34 expression was investigated under a microscope.

Results:

The results showed that the cream from 10% and 15% latex J. curcas revealed moderate immune reaction to CD34 on days 3 and 7 in wound healing of mice skin.

Conclusion:

We concluded that the cream from 10% and 15% latex J. curcas has potential as angiogenesis activity in wound healing of mice skin.

Ameliorative effect of biofabricated ZnO nanoparticles of Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. on dermal wounds via removal of oxidative stress and inflammation

An impediment in the process of wound healing can be attributed to reactive oxygen species and inflammation. The curative efficacy of green synthesized Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOTP) was investigated in the present study for evaluation of their wound healing potential in rodents. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of ZnOTP was determined, and antioxidant potential was evaluated by the DPPH method. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of ZnOTP was evaluated by membrane stabilization and albumin denaturation, along with proteinase inhibitory assays. The synthesized ZnOTP were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) studies. The wound healing potential of ZnOTP was monitored by excision and incision wound models. Analyses confirmed the formation of spherical nanoparticles of 10-20 nm size along with strong signals of zinc and oxygen atoms. Significant results (p < 0.05) of wound contraction rate, epithelialization and histopathology of the healed tissues of rats confirmed the promising wound healing property of ZnOTP. In addition, inflammatory markers, biochemical estimation such as the hydroxyproline content of granulation tissue, and the profile of antioxidant enzymes also supported the wound healing potential of ZnOTP. The present study advocated the attenuation of wounds via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of a green synthesized nano-ointment.

Attenuation of dermal wounds via downregulating oxidative stress and inflammatory markers by protocatechuic acid rich n-butanol fraction of Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. in wistar albino rats

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute as a key factor for retarding the process of dermal wound healing. Trianthema portulcastrum Linn. (TP) leaves reported to possess antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which could make TP a promising wound healing agent. The current study was aimed to estimate the antioxidant potential of the fractionated hydroethanolic extract of TP leaves and evaluate wound healing activity by excision and incision wound models along with the assessment of possible underlying mechanism. Ethyl acetate, chloroform and n-butanol fractions of the hydroethanolic extract of TP leaves were examined for in vitro antioxidant ability by DPPH method. Strongest antioxidant activity bearing n-butanol fraction (nBuTP) was further analyzed quantitatively by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD). Wound healing potential of nBUTP using excision and incision wound model was studied. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups, containing six animals in each group; group I served as control treated with simple ointment base, group II was standard group, treated with povidone-iodine ointment USP (5%), group III treated with nBuTP 5% w/w ointment, and group IV treated with nBuTP 10%w/w ointment. All the groups were topically applied their respective ointments, once daily, till the complete healing achieved. Wound healing was assessed by analyzing % wound closure, hydroxyproline content, epithelialization period, tensile strength, enzymatic antioxidative status and inflammatory markers. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract was estimated to be 112.32±1.12 and 84.42±0.47mg/g, respectively. HPLC-DAD of nBuTP confirmed the presence of chlorogenic acid (20.74±0.03), protocatechuic acid (34.45±0.02mg/g), caffeic acid (4.31±0.03mg/g) and ferulic acid (1.43±0.01mg/g). 5% and 10%w/w nBuTP ointment significantly accelerated the wound healing process dose-dependently in both wound models, evidenced by the faster rate of wound contraction, epithelialization, increased hydroxyproline content, high tensile strength, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased the level of inflammatory markers compared to the control group. Histopathological studies also revealed the dose-dependant amelioration of wound healing by re-epithelialization, collagenation and vascularization of wounded skin sample in nBuTP treated groups. These results implicate potential medicinal value of nBuTP to heal dermal wounds.