Skin-healing activity and toxicological evaluation of a proteinase fraction from Carica candamarcensis.

Previous studies demonstrated that proteinases from latex of C. candamarcensis act as mitogens on fibroblast and epithelial cells and a subsequent report showed their protective, angiogenic and wound healing effects on gastric ulcers. In this study, we present evidence of skin healing activity by the group of proteinases known as P1G10. By using a hairless mouse model, we compared the healing effect following topical application of various concentrations of P1G10. The data confirm that healing actions take place between 0.1 and 1%, without adverse local irritation or systemic toxicological action after a prolonged period of use. The wound healing effect is unaltered when P1G10 is previously inhibited with iodoacetamide. The low permeation of the hydrosoluble formulation Polawax(®) supports the maintenance of the drug at the site of application. These results extend the healing properties of these groups of enzymes in situations of dermatological trauma and open the way to future clinical applications.

The gastric ulcer protective and healing role of cysteine proteinases from Carica candamarcensis.

Latex from Caricaceae contains proteolytic enzymes localized in the fruit, which are used ethnopharmacologically to treat digestive disorders. Some of these proteins display proliferative properties when probed with mammalian cells, suggesting a role in the reconstruction of wounded tissue. We tested the efficacy of a proteolytic fraction derived from Carica candamarcensis, designated as P1G10 in experimental rodent models, to protect and heal chemically induced gastric ulcers. The protective effect of oral administration of P1G10 fraction was analyzed in indomethacin-treated Wistar animals. The healing effect of P1G10 was studied following sub-serous injection of acetic acid in a Wistar rat model. The results show that P1G10 between 0.1 and 10 mg/kg protect indomethacin but not ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. The maximal protection attained was 67% with 10 mg/kg of P1G10. The healing rate by 10 mg/kg of P1G10 using the acetic acid ulcerogenic model is similar to that of omeprazole (10 mg/kg) or ranitidine (100 mg/kg). The effect of P1G10 at 10 mg/kg seems to be mediated by an increase in the mucus content by 25% and stimulation of angiogenesis by 64% in a manner similar to growth factors. These results confirm the protective and healing role of proteinases from C. candamarcensis.