title: Bioassay-guided isolation of wound healing active compounds from Echium species growing in Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The roots and root barks of Echium sp. have been used to treat ulcers, burns and wounds in traditional Turkish medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  On the basis of them traditional use and literature references, four Echium species were selected for evaluation of them wound healing potential. Isolation of active component(s) from the active extracts through the bioassay guided fractionation procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo the wound healing activity of the plants was evaluated by linear incision experimental models. The chloroform extract of Echium italicum L. was fractionated by successive chromatographic techniques. Wound healing activity of each fraction was investigated following the bioassay-guided fractionation procedures. Moreover, the tissue samples of isolated compounds were examined histopathologically. The healing potential was comparatively assessed with a reference ointment Madecassol®, which contains 1% extract of Centella asiatica.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant wound healing activity was observed from the ointment prepared with ethanol extract at 1% concentration. The ethanol root extract treated in groups of animals showed a significant increase (37.38%, 40.97% and 35.29% separately for E. italicum L, Echium vulgare L. and Echium angustifolium Miller) wound tensile strength in the incision wound model. Subfractions showed significant but reduced wound healing activity on in vivo wound models. Shikonin derivatives "Acetylshikonin", "Deoxyshikonin" and "2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin+Isovalerylshikonin", were isolated and determined as active components of active final subfraction from E. italicum L. roots. The results of histopathological examination supported the outcome of linear incision wound models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental study revealed that Echium species display remarkable wound healing activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas Center, Sivas 58140, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuraniye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eruygur
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Tandoğan, Ankara 06560, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülderen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ankara University, Dışkapı, Ankara 06110, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kutsal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ankara University, Dışkapı, Ankara 06110, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gözde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler, Ankara 06330, Turkey. Electronic address: oustun@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Üstün
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036661:Echium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006844:Hydrocarbons, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014421:Turkey; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006844:Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidant; Echium sp.; Hydroxyproline content; Incision wound model; Wound healing activity