The Effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris on Wound Healing: An Experimental In Vitro Evaluation.
BACKGROUND
A lot of remedies, mostly plant based, were mentioned in the Persian old pharmacopoeias for promoting of burn and wound healing and tissue repairing. The efficacy of most of these old remedies is unexplored till now. Adiantum capillus-veneris from Adiantaceae family is one of them that was used to treating of some kinds of chronic wounds.


METHODS
Methanol extract was fractionated to four different partitions that is, hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous. The potential of A. capillus-veneris fractions in wound healing or prevention of chronic wounds were evaluated through angiogenesis and fibroblast proliferation, in addition to in vitro tests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals.


RESULTS
The aqueous part of A. capillus-veneris promoted significant angiogenesis (P < 0.05) through both capillary-like tubular formations and proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. In addition, in the tests for protection against damage to fibroblasts by oxygen free radicals, aqueous and butanol fractions showed significant protective effects in the concentrations 50, and 500 μg/ml (P < 0.05) in comparison with a control group. In the toxicity testing, it showed weak irritation in the Hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) bioassay at the vascular level on the CAM of the chicken and no significant cytotoxicity in the MTT assays on normal human dermal fibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiogenic effects and protective effects against oxygen free radicals suggested aqueous partition of A. capillus-veneris local application for prevention of late-radiation-induced injuries after radiation therapy and healing of external wounds similar to bedsores and burns.
Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mohammad Ali
MA
Nilforoushzadeh
Department of Physiology, Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Shaghayegh Haghjooy
SH
Javanmard
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Mustafa
M
Ghanadian
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Gholamreza
G
Asghari
Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Fariba
F
Jaffary
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abolfazl Fallah
AF
Yakhdani
Department of Physiology, Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Nasim
N
Dana
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Sayed Ali
SA
Fatemi
Adiantum capillus-veneris; Iranian traditional medicine; angiogenesis; fibroblast proliferation; hen's egg test chorioallantoic membrane test; wound healing