title: Fibroblast growth stimulation by extracts and compounds of Onosma argentatum roots.
abstract: The roots of Onosma argentatum are used traditionally in Turkey for wound healing and burns. The n-hexane-dichloromethane extract of the roots, and four shikonin derivatives (deoxyshikonin, acetyl shikonin, 3-hydroxy-isovaleryl shikonin and 5,8-O-dimethyl acetyl shikonin) isolated from the n-hexane-dichloromethane extract were investigated for their ability to stimulate the growth of human amnion fibroblasts. A range of concentrations was studied and the extract found to stimulate the growth of human amnion fibroblasts in vitro at 0.1 microg/mL whilst 5,8-O-dimethyl acetyl shikonin had the same effect at 0.05-5 microg/mL, although cytotoxicity was observed at 50 microg/mL for all samples. The extract and all the other isolated compounds showed cytotoxicity at 10 microg/mL with the extract and 3-hydroxy-isovaleryl shikonin showing cytotoxicity at 5 microg/mL. It is suggested that any wound healing effect of the roots of Onosma argentatum might be partly due to an additive effect of the shikonin derivatives present.
authors.affiliation: Atatürk University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. uozgen@atauni.edu.tr
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ozgen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikbal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hacimuftuoglu
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gocer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coskun
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D028082:Boraginaceae; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D010936:Plant Extracts