title: Curcuma purpurascens BI. rhizome accelerates rat excisional wound healing: involvement of Hsp70/Bax proteins, antioxidant defense, and angiogenesis activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcuma purpurascens BI. is a member of Zingiberaceae family. The purpose of this study is to investigate the wound healing properties of hexane extract of C. purpurascens rhizome (HECP) against excisional wound healing in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: A) negative control (blank placebo, acacia gum), B) low dose of HECP, C) high dose of HECP, and D) positive control, with 6 rats in each group. Full-thickness incisions (approximately 2.00 cm) were made on the neck area of each rat. Groups 1-4 were treated two-times a day for 20 days with blank placebo, HECP (100 mg/kg), HECP (200 mg/kg), and intrasite gel as a positive control, respectively. After 20 days, hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stainings were employed to investigate the histopathological alterations. Protein expressions of Bax and Hsp70 were examined in the wound tissues using immunohistochemistry analysis. In addition, levels of enzymatic antioxidants and malondialdehyde representing lipid peroxidation were measured in wound tissue homogenates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macroscopic evaluation of wounds showed conspicuous elevation in wound contraction after topical administration of HECP at both doses. Moreover, histopathological analysis revealed noteworthy reduction in the scar width correlated with the enhanced collagen content and fibroblast cells, accompanied by a reduction of inflammatory cells in the granulation tissues. At the molecular level, HECP facilitates wound-healing process by downregulating Bax and upregulating Hsp70 protein at the wound site. The formation of new blood vessel was observed in Masson's trichrome staining of wounds treated with HECP (100 and 200 mg/kg). In addition, HECP administration caused a significant surge in enzymatic antioxidant activities and a decline in lipid peroxidation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that HECP accelerated wound-healing process in rats via antioxidant activity, angiogenesis effect and anti-inflammatory responses involving Hsp70/Bax.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rouhollahi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Soheil Zorofchian
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Moghadamtousi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hajiaghaalipour
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahedifard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Faezeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tayeby
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Khalijah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mahmood Ameen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdulla
authors.affiliation: Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zahurin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
keywords: Zingiberaceae; antioxidant enzyme activity; immunohistochemistry; inflammatory cells; wound closure