Triterpenes for Well-Balanced Scar Formation in Superficial Wounds

Jasminum grandiflorum oral gel as an add-on to standard of care in radiation induced grade 2 oral mucositis - an open label pilot clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced oral mucositis is one of the most critical dose-limiting toxicities associated with radiation therapy for oral cancer which can result in treatment interruption and compromise the quality of the life of cancer patients. Jati (Jasminum grandiflorum) is used in Ayurveda to treat oral conditions like stomatitis and mouth ulcers.

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility of Jati oral gel as an add on therapy in grade 2 radiation-induced oral mucositis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, open-label, non-randomised pilot trial was conducted on 20 patients with grade 2 radiation-induced oral mucositis at a tertiary cancer hospital. The control group received sodium bicarbonate mouthwash 4-5 times daily as the standard of care, while the intervention arm also received Jati oral gel twice daily. We used the ImageJ software for objective assessment and the Visual Analogue Scale for subjective pain assessment. The study was continued for 15 days or until the mucositis progressed to grade 3 or resolved to grade 1.

RESULT

There was a significant reduction in the mean pain score and mean area of mucositis in the intervention group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Jati oral gel is a suitable medicament as an add-on therapy in managing grade 2 radiation-induced oral mucositis.

Antioxidative and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Bark Extracts from Common European Trees in Light of Dermal Applications

Plant species have developed effective defense strategies for colonizing diverse habitats and protecting themselves from numerous attacks from a wide range of organisms, including insects, vertebrates, fungi, and bacteria. The bark of trees in particular constitutes a number of components that protect against unwanted intruders. This review focuses on the antioxidative, dermal immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial properties of bark extracts from European common temperate trees in light of various skin pathogens, wound healing, and the maintenance of skin health. The sustainability aspect, achieved by utilizing the bark, which is considered a byproduct in the forest industry, is addressed, as are various extraction methods applied to retrieve extracts from bark.

Tetracyclic and Pentacyclic Triterpenes with High Therapeutic Efficiency in Wound Healing Approaches

Wounds are among the most common skin conditions, displaying a large etiological diversity and being characterized by different degrees of severity. Wound healing is a complex process that involves multiple steps such as inflammation, proliferation and maturation and ends with scar formation. Since ancient times, a widely used option for treating skin wounds are plant- based treatments which currently have become the subject of modern pharmaceutical formulations. Triterpenes with tetracyclic and pentacyclic structure are extensively studied for their implication in wound healing as well as to determine their molecular mechanisms of action. The current review aims to summarize the main results of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies conducted on lupane, ursane, oleanane, dammarane, lanostane and cycloartane type triterpenes as potential wound healing treatments.

Plant-based remedies for wolf bites and rituals against wolves in the Iberian Peninsula: Therapeutic opportunities and cultural values for the conservation of biocultural diversity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Combined approaches to local knowledge and folk plant use improve awareness and promote effective strategies for the conservation of significant biocultural patrimony. Moreover, the information reported might be the basis for further appropriate phytochemical and pharmacological research. Therefore we provide an insight into traditional herbal remedies and practices for healing bite injuries in humans and domestic animals caused by the Iberian wolf. Wolf bites are associated with inflammatory processes and rabies is a potential complication AIMS: This paper describes and summarises the medicinal-veterinary empirical and ritual uses of the Iberian flora for wolf injuries and reviews the ethnopharmacological data of specific plants that are already published. The Iberian wolf is a critically endangered subspecies of the grey wolf. Livestock attacks attributed to wolves are increasingly frequent in the Iberian Peninsula, resulting in serious social problems. Interesting strategies for Iberian wolf conservation might be related to traditional grazing practices that are deeply linked with empirical knowledge and local practices passed on by oral tradition, which are also vulnerable now.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on documentary sources from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present, we systematically searched old monographs, regional documents, technical papers, project reports, as well as the international and national databases and the available scientific literature, without restrictions regarding the language of the publications consulted.

RESULTS

A total of 39 remedies for healing wolf bite injuries in humans and domestic animals was reported, highlighting the medicinal use of 33 species of vascular plants, mostly wild herbs, belonging to 18 botanical families. The use of wood ashes was also reported. The number of use-reports found represents a very high number considering similar European studies. Leaves were the predominant plant part mentioned. Boiling plant materials in water for topical uses was the most frequent method of preparation found. Some traditional remedies combined two or more plant species in order to potentiate their effects. Moreover, some plant-based traditional practices and rituals to ward off wolves and to prevent wolf attacks were also documented. In these practices eleven other species (belonging to seven more families) were used.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the decline of the Iberian wolf over the last few decades, wolves are still in the imaginary of rural communities that perceive this large carnivore as both a diabolic creature and a mythic and benign animal. Wolf-related cultural heritage is of great interest in terms of conservation strategies. This review emphasises the importance of local knowledge and provides useful information about several potential sources of phytochemicals and their claimed therapeutic effects, aiming at contributing to the conservation and appreciation of the Iberian biocultural heritage.