ABSTRACT
AIM OF THE STUDY: n-Hexanic and ethanolic extracts from twelve plants (Brugmansia suaveolens Brecht. et Presl., Eupatorium laevigatum Lam., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Iresine herbstii Hook., Kalanchöe tubiflora Hamet-Ahti, Petiveria alliacea L., Pluchea sagittalis (Lam.) Cabrera, Piper regnellii DC., Schinus molle L., Sedum dendroideum Moç et Sessé ex DC., Waltheria douradinha St. Hill., Xanthium cavanillesii Schouw.) used in traditional South Brazilian medicine as wound healing agents were investigated in various biological assays, targeting different aspects in this complex process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extracts were investigated on NF-kappaB DNA binding, p38alpha MAPK, TNF-alpha release, direct elastase inhibition and its release as well as on caspase-3. Fibroblasts migration to and proliferation into the wounded monolayers were evaluated in the scratch assay, the agar diffusion test for antibacterial and the MTT assay for cytotoxic effects. RESULTS: The hydrophilic extracts from Galinsoga parviflora, Petiveria alliacea, Schinus molle, Waltheria douradinha and Xanthium cavanillesii as well as the lipophilic extract of Waltheria douradinha turned out to be the most active ones. CONCLUSIONS: These results increase our knowledge on the wound healing effects of the investigated medicinal plants. Further studies are necessary to find out the effective secondary metabolites responsible for the observed effects.
Subject(s)
Magnoliopsida , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Wound Healing/drug effects , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Brazil , Caspase 3/metabolism , Cell Line , Cytotoxins/pharmacology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Mice , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , NF-kappa B/genetics , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Pancreatic Elastase/metabolism , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Wound Healing/physiology , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolismABSTRACT
Visando estabelecer parâmetros para o controle da qualidade do caule de Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. (Caesalpiniaceae), foram realizados testes preconizados pela Farmacopéia Brasileira IV e pela Organização Mundial da Saúde para a avaliação da pureza, através das determinações de materiais estranhos, cinzas totais, cinzas insolúveis em ácido, umidade, ensaios-limites de cloretos e sulfatos, além da pesquisa de contaminantes microbianos no material pulverizado. Para a caracterização dos constituintes, eventualmente presentes na droga vegetal, foram realizadas as determinações de taninos, dos índices de espuma, intumescimento e amargor e o teste de hemólise; também foi realizada a caracterização do extrato etanólico bruto e suas frações por cromatografia em camada delgada.
In order to establish parameters for the control quality of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. stem, the drug was characterized by the methods described in Farmacopéia Brasileira IV and by the World Health Organization. The powdered plant material was submitted to the following tests for purity evaluation: foreign matter, total ash, acid insoluble ash, water content, chloride and sulfate limit assays, and microbiological contamination. Determination of haemolytic activity, foaming index, swelling index and bitterness index were done to characterize the constituents eventually present in the drug, as well as the characterization of the ethanolic crude extract and its fractions by thin-layer chromatography.
