RESUMEN
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In folk medicine stem barks of Caesalpinia ferrea (Caesalpinioideae) are used to treat enterocolitis, rheumatism and wounds and in experimental procedures, its aqueous extracts demonstrated antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: The healing mechanism of the polyssacharide-rich extract of C. ferrea stem barks (TPL-Cf) was investigated in a model of excisional cutaneous wound in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Excisional wounds received topical treatment with TPL-Cf (0.025-0.1%) during 21 days. Hypernociception, macroscopical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters were evaluated and analyzed by ANOVA, Bonferroni and Kruskal-Wallis tests, followed by Dunn and Chi-Square tests. RESULTS: TPL-Cf (0.1%) reduced wound area and hypernociception, and increased wound contraction. TPL-Cf reduced leukocyte infiltration and vascular permeability, and stimulated fibroblasia, angiogenesis, well formed granulation tissue, collagen deposition and epithelial layer formation. TPL-Cf reduced TNF-α expression and the levels of PGE2 (73%-day 5), IL-1 (42%-day 2), MDA (38%-day 5), total protein (53%-day 2; 73%-day 5) and MPO activity (53%-day 2), but increased the expression of i-NOS (days 5 and 7), TGF-ß (day 5) and the levels of NO (3.6 fold-day 5). CONCLUSION: The polysaccharide-rich extract of C. ferra stem barks accelerates wound healing by the control of the inflammatory phase and attenuates hypernociception via modulation of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1ß, NO, TGF-ß).