title: Evaluation of the wound healing potential of Wedelia trilobata (L.) leaves.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc (Asteraceae) leaves are used in the treatment of wounds by traditional healers. Despite the use of this plant in wound healing, there is a scarcity of scientific data to support its therapeutic application.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the wound healing potential of Wedelia trilobata (L.) leaves commonly employed by traditional healers and to clarify its traditional use in a scientific investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ethanolic extract of Wedelia trilobata leaves was subjected to column chromatography. Hexane, ethyl acetate (WEA) and chloroform:methanol (50:50) (WCM) fractions were obtained. The fractions were tested using relevant in vitro wound healing assays. Antioxidant activity was measured by the DPPH assay. The fibroblast proliferation, oxidative stress using hydrogen peroxide, an in vitro scratch assay, and increasing collagen content was determined using fibroblast L929. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WEA (3 μg/mL) promoted fibroblast L929 survivability up to more than 90% before and more than 85% after hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress. WEA (3 μg/mL) induced a 70% migration rate in the in vitro scratch assay and the collagen content was increased to 261 μg/mL compared to the control (57.5 μg/mL). WCM exhibited a scavenging activity for DPPH with an IC(50) value of 179.5 μg/mL comparable to BHT (139.3 μg/mL). WEA was active against gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC values of 62.5 and 31.25 μg/mL, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These scientific findings of wound healing activity supports the traditional claims for Wedelia trilobata (L.) leaves. The WEA displayed antibacterial and fibroblast stimulatory activities while WCM exhibited antioxidant to indicate its potential wound healing properties. However further studies to isolate the antibacterial, antioxidant and fibroblast stimulatory compounds that contribute to the wound healing properties of this plant are needed.
authors.affiliation: Drug Delivery System Excellence Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balekar
authors.forename: Nadpi Gangadhar
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Katkam
authors.forename: Titpawan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakpheng
authors.forename: Kholeeyoh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jehtae
authors.forename: Teerapol
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Srichana
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002725:Chloroform / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D031209:Wedelia; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C007650:ethyl acetate; D002725:Chloroform; D003094:Collagen; D000432:Methanol