Wound repair and anti-inflammatory potential of essential oils from cones of Pinaceae: preclinical experimental research in animal models

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Ethnobotanical surveys revealed that Abies bornmulleriana, Abies cilicica, Abies nordmanniana and Cedrus libani have been used to promote wound healing in Turkish folk medicine. Four different fir species (Abies cilicica subsp. cilicica, Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmulleriana, Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, and Abies nordmanniana subsp. nordmanniana), Cedrus libani and Picea orientalis were assessed for their in vivo wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities.

Materials and methods

The essential oils from six different coniferous cones were used. In vivo wound healing activity of the plants was evaluated by linear incision and circular excision experimental wound models subsequently histopathological analysis. The healing potential was comparatively assessed with a reference ointment Madecassol^®, which contains 1% extract of Centella asiatica. Additionally acetic acid-induced capillary permeability test was used for the oils’ anti-inflammatory activity.

Results

The essential oils from Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica subsp. cilicica demonstrated the highest activities on the both wound models. Moreover, the oil from Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmulleriana was found generally highly effective. On the other hand, the rest of the species did not show any remarkable wound healing effect. Results of the present study support the continued and expanded utilization of these plant species employed in Turkish folk medicine.

Conclusion

The experimental study revealed that Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica subsp. cilicica display remarkable wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities.     

Enhancement of wound healing by topical application of Scorzonera species: determination of the constituents by HPLC with new validated reverse phase method

Ethnopharmacological relevance Scorzonera species are mainly used against arteriosclerosis, kidney diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and rheumatism, as well as for pain relief and wound healing in Turkish folk medicine. In the current study, aerial parts and roots of Scorzonera cinerea, Scorzonera incisa, Scorzonera latifolia, Scorzonera mollis ssp. szowitsii, Scorzonera parviflora, and Scorzonera tomentosa collected from different regions of Anatolia and yak? sak?z? which is prepared by drying the latex is obtained from the roots of Scorzonera latifolia were evaluated for their wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects.

Materials and methods

In vivo wound healing activity of the plants was evaluated by linear incision and circular excision wound models. Hydroxyproline content of the treated tissues was also assessed. Acetic acid-induced capillary permeability test was used for anti-inflammatory activity. For the determination of the active constituents, a new high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed. Precision of the developed method was performed by the evaluation of intra-day and inter-day variations of the each standard at limits of quantification (LOQ) levels.

Results

The aqueous methanolic extracts of Scorzonera latifolia, Scorzonera mollis ssp. szowitsii demonstrated the highest activities. The main compound was detected as chlorogenic acid both in roots and aerial parts of the most Scorzonera species and hyperoside or rutin was determined as one of the main component of the aerial parts.

Conclusion

The experimental study revealed that methanol-water extracts from aerial parts of Scorzonera latifolia and Scorzonera mollis ssp. szowitsii were found to have better activity on the wound healing compared to the other extracts and control groups. This might be due to the combined effect of the constituents present in the extracts.     

In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the therapeutic potential of some Turkish Scorzonera species as wound healing agent

Wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects of aerial parts and roots of S. acuminata, S. cana var. alpina, S. cana var. jacquiniana, S. cana var. radicosa, S. eriophora, S. laciniata ssp. laciniata, S. suberosa ssp. suberosa and S. sublanata were investigated in current study to clarify the traditional usage of Scorzonera species growing in Turkey. It is well known that some species of the Scorzonera genus are used for wound healing in Turkish and European traditional medicine. Therefore, wound healing effect of the plants was assessed by using linear incision and circular excision experimental wound models and subsequently histopathological analysis. Hydroxyproline content of the treated tissues was also assessed. Furthermore, the extracts were screened for anti-hyaluronidase activity. For the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity, acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability test was used. 20% aqueous methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Scorzonera species, S. cana var. jacquiniana and S. eriophora were found to be effective on the wound and anti-inflammatory activity test models. The results of histopathological examination supported the outcome of linear incision and circular excision wound models. Phytochemical analyses of the tested extracts were also performed by using developed and validated HPLC method. Among the tested standard compounds, varying amounts of the chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside and luteolin-7-glycoside were determined in Scorzonera species.     

The effects of bupivacaine injection and oral nitric oxide on extraocular muscle in the rabbit

Aim

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in muscle regeneration, which is the primary response, observed during bupivacaine-induced extraocular muscle (EOM) hypertrophy. Our aims were to investigate the effects of bupivacaine injection into the rabbit EOM and the interaction with NO.

Materials and methods

Superior rectus (SR) muscles of 24 New Zealand albino rabbits were studied. Single muscle twitch tension (SMTT) and tetanic muscle tensions at 50, 75, and 100 Hz were recorded using a 15 V stimuli. The rabbits were equally allocated into three groups. Measurements were performed without any drug treatments in group 1. In groups 2 and 3, bupivacaine, 0.5 ml of a 0.50 % solution, was injected into the EOM, and after 21 days, measurements were performed. Oral isosorbide dinitrate (NO donor) at 20 mg/day was given each day prior to measurements in group 3.

Results

SMTTs were 69.9 (66.7–77.6), 187.7 (114.9–252.1) and 204.2 (135.3–311.6) mg in groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. SMTTs for both groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher than that for group 1 (p?<?0.05). Compared with group 1, group 2 exhibited a 3.8–11.7 % increase in the tetanic tensions at 50, 75, and 100 Hz, but none of these differences were statistically significant. The increase was 47.5–137.5 % in group 3 relative to group 2, and the differences were statistically significant except at 100 Hz. The enlargement of the muscle fibers after bupivacaine injection was shown histopathologically.

Conclusion

Bupivacaine injection increased the EOM tension in rabbits to some extent. NO augmented the effect of bupivacaine.     

Thrombus formation during percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect with an Amplatzer septal occluder

Percutaneous closure of an ostium secundum-type atrial septal defect is typically a safe and effective therapeutic option in the presence of significant shunting or paradoxical embolism. Infrequently, however, periprocedural sequelae occur.Herein, we report the cases of 2 patients, each of whom underwent transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect with the use of an Amplatzer Septal Occluder under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. In both patients, acute thrombi formed periprocedurally, despite preprocedural anticoagulation. In patient 1, the infusion of unfractionated heparin for 24 hours prevented the recurrence of thrombus; in patient 2, the thrombus was isolated under the arm of the occluder, and unfractionated heparin was infused. Both patients were asymptomatic and without detectable thrombus after the procedure and at follow-up. These reports highlight a rare early sequela and the importance of transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring during the percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect.     

Slit-Robo signals regulate pioneer axon pathfinding of the tract of the postoptic commissure in the mammalian forebrain

During early vertebrate forebrain development, pioneer axons establish a symmetrical scaffold descending longitudinally through the rostral forebrain, thus forming the tract of the postoptic commissure (TPOC). In mouse embryos, this tract begins to appear at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) as a bundle of axons tightly constrained at a specific dorsoventral level. We have characterized the participation of the Slit chemorepellants and their Robo receptors in the control of TPOC axon projection. In E9.5-E11.5 mouse embryos, Robo1 and Robo2 are expressed in the nucleus origin of the TPOC (nTPOC), and Slit expression domains flank the TPOC trajectory. These findings suggested that these proteins are important factors in the dorsoventral positioning of the TPOC axons. Consistently with this role, Slit2 inhibited TPOC axon growth in collagen gel cultures, and interfering with Robo function in cultured embryos induced projection errors in TPOC axons. Moreover, absence of both Slit1 and Slit2 or Robo1 and Robo2 in mutant mouse embryos revealed aberrant TPOC trajectories, resulting in abnormal spreading of the tract and misprojections into both ventral and dorsal tissues. These results reveal that Slit-Robo signaling regulates the dorsoventral position of this pioneer tract in the developing forebrain.     

Wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities of the Michauxia L'Hérit (Campanulaceae) species native to Turkey

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The leaves of Michauxia species are used for the treatment of wounds in Turkish traditional medicine. In the present study, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the extracts obtained from the root and herb of 5 species of Michauxia collected in different parts of Turkey were evaluated.

Material and methods

In vivo incision and excision wound models were used in order to assess the wound healing effects of the methanolic extracts of the plants. Skin samples were also evaluated histopathologically. In vivo inhibitory effect of the extracts on acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability was studied for the assessment of anti-inflammatory activity. TBA (thiobarbituric acid) test, qualitative and quantitative DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) tests were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity.

Results

Noteworthy wound healing activity was observed for the ointment formulation prepared with 1% Michauxia nuda (root) and Michauxia tchihatchewii (herb) extracts. The results of histopathological evaluation supported the outcome of incision and excision wound models. Moreover, the Michauxia nuda (root) exerted remarkable anti-inflammatory effect. The highest antioxidant activity was observed with the ethyl acetate extract of Michauxia tchihatchewii herb.

Conclusion

The experimental study revealed that Michauxia displays remarkable wound healing and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.