Evaluation of wound healing properties of Arrabidaea chica Verlot extract.
BACKGROUND
Arrabidaea chica Verlot. (Bignoniaceae), popularly known as Crajiru, has been traditionally used as wound healing agent.


OBJECTIVE
Investigate in vitro and in vivo healing properties of Arrabidaea chica leaves extract (AC).


METHODS
AC was evaluated in vitro in fibroblast growth stimulation (0.25-250 microg/mL) and collagen production stimulation (250 microg/mL) assays. Allantoin (0.25-250 microg/mL) and vitamin C (25 microg/mL) were used as controls respectively. DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteau assays were used for antioxidant evaluation, using trolox (0.25-250 microg/mL) as reference antioxidant. To study wound healing properties in rats, AC (100mg/mL, 200 microL/wound/day) was topically administered during 10 days and wound area was evaluated every day. Allantoin (100mg/mL, 200 microL/wound/day) was used as standard drug. After treatment, wound sites were removed for histopathological analysis and total collagen determination.


RESULTS
AC stimulated fibroblast growth in a concentration dependent way (EC50=30 microg/mL), increased in vitro collagen production and demonstrated moderate antioxidant capacity. In vivo, AC reduced wound size in 96%, whereas saline group showed only 36% wound healing.


CONCLUSIONS
AC efficiency seems to involve fibroblast growing stimulus and collagen synthesis both in vitro and in vivo, beyond moderate scavenging activity, corroborating Crajiru folk use.
Jorge
Michelle Pedroza
MP
CPQBA, PO Box 6171, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Madjarof
Cristiana
C
Gois Ruiz
Ana Lúcia Tasca
AL
Fernandes
Alik Teixeira
AT
Ferreira Rodrigues
Rodney Alexandre
RA
de Oliveira Sousa
Ilza Maria
IM
Foglio
Mary Ann
MA
de Carvalho
João Ernesto
JE
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029402:Bignoniaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline