title: Annona muricata leaves accelerate wound healing in rats via involvement of Hsp70 and antioxidant defence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Annona muricata, a member of the Annonaceae family, is commonly known as soursop and graviola. The leaves of this tropical fruit tree are widely used in folk medicine against skin diseases and abscesses, however there is no scientific evidence justifying the use of A. muricata leaves. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the wound healing potential of ethyl acetate extract of A. muricata leaves (EEAM) towards excisional wound models in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague Dawley rats (24) were randomly divided into four groups, viz. (A) vehicle control, (B) low dose of EEAM (5% w/w), (C) high dose of EEAM (10% w/w) and (D) positive control with excisional wound created on the neck area. Wounds were topically dressed twice a day for 15 days. On the 15th day, animals were sacrificed and then processed for immunohistochemical and histological evaluations, including Hematoxylin & Eosin and Masson Trichrome stainings. The activity of antioxidants, namely catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in wound tissue homogenate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of wounds demonstrated a significant wound healing activity shown by EEAM at two doses. Treatment of wounds with ointment containing EEAM caused significant surge in antioxidants activities and decrease in the MDA level of wound tissues compared with vehicle control. The immunohistochemical evaluation revealed conspicuous up-regulation of Hsp70 in treated wounds with EEAM, suggesting the anti-inflammatory effect of EEAM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EEAM exhibited a promising wound healing potential towards excisional wound models in rats.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Research Group, Biochemistry Program, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Soheil Zorofchian
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Moghadamtousi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rouhollahi
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Research Group, Biochemistry Program, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajrezaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karimian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mahmood Ameen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Research Group, Biochemistry Program, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: habsah@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Habsah Abdul
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kadir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031041:Annona; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Annona muricata; Annonaceae; Antioxidant defence; Hsp70; Inflammatory cells; Wound healing