RESUMO
A significant challenge in biomedicine is the development of Biomaterials with the potential to accelerate wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the gel prepared from sea cucumber on wound healing in rats. Full-thickness wounds were created in male rats divided into five experimental groups, negative control (NC), positive control (PC), and treatments. The NC and PC groups received respectively gel base and phenytoin cream 1%. Treatment groups were treated topically by gels of 1%, 3%, and 5% Holothuria parva extract (HPE) in the gel base. The rats were sacrificed on days 7, 14, and 21. Pathological reports revealed the proliferation of keratinocytes in the borders of the wound in treatment groups and controls. Formation of granulation tissue was seen on day 7 in treatment groups, collagen fibers in granulation tissue were randomly organized, and the rate of fibroblast decreased. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in wound contraction between all groups in comparison to the NC group (P < .05) on day 8. It was concluded that the 1% HPE gel has a good potential for promoting wound healing. [Formula: see text].
RESUMO
In the present in vivo study the anticancer efficacy of the venoms from Androctonus crassicauda, Messobuthus eupeus and Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpions was investigated. In addition, we attempted to clarify whether the immune system is involved in this activity. Initially, the LD50 of the venoms from these scorpions were determined and their 0.1 and 0.2 LD50 were calculated. The toxicity of 0.1 and 0.2 LD50 was tested on healthy mice by daily SC administration of these venoms for 12 consecutive days. CT26 cells were inoculated by SC route in BALB/c mice to establish a sold tumor, and ten days later, the mice were treated with 0.1 and 0.2 LD50 doses of the venoms on daily basis for 12 consecutive days. The tumor volume was measured every 4 days. At day 13, the tumors from untreated-control and venom-treated groups were removed, weighed, and assessed by histopathological and immunohistochemical techniques. In addition, the levels of mRNA expression of IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-1ß were measured by real-time PCR. All the venoms induced anticancer effects as evidenced by significant inhibition in tumor growth; significant increases in inflammatory and CD+-T cells and expression of mRNA IL-12 and IFN-γ in tumor microenvironment of venom-treated as compared to untreated-control. These findings demonstrated, for the first time, that sub-lethal doses of the venoms from these scorpions induce their in vivo anticancer effects by stimulating the immune system. Further studies, specifically designed to identify these active constituents are recommended.
