title: In vitro growth stimulatory and in vivo wound healing studies on cycloartane-type saponins of Astragalus genus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the wound healing effects of the four chief saponins of Astragalus species [cycloastragenol (CA), astragaloside IV (AG), cyclocephaloside I (CCI) and cyclocanthoside E (CCE)].
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of cell viability and proliferation of the isolated compounds were evaluated by the MTT assay on human keratinocyte. The wound healing activity was studied by using in vitro wound healing, proliferation and migration scratch assay. In order to see in vivo effectiveness of the compounds, an animal study with Sprague-Dawley male rats at the age of 12 weeks was carried out, and then the main histological outcomes were investigated to observe reepithelization, neovascularization, and presence of inflammatory cells, granulation tissue amount and maturation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the compounds increased both fibroblast proliferation and migration, but the effects were much superior for CA at 1 ng/ml concentration. Among the compounds, based on the histological findings, 5% CA preparation was found to be the most remarkable in vivo wound healing agent showing greater cell density, more regularly organized dermis and more newly formed blood vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study indicate that the cycloartane-type saponins are the principal constituents responsible for wound healing activities of the roots of Astragalus species substantiating its use in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Ege University, Bornova, 35100 İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sevimli-Gür
authors.forename: Ilyas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Onbaşılar
authors.forename: Pergin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atilla
authors.forename: Rükan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Genç
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cakar
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Deliloğlu-Gürhan
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bedir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014315:Triterpenes; C085352:cycloartane