Plant Extracts Help Heal Wounds and Improve Skin Health

Jenn Hoskins
18th August, 2024

Plant Extracts Help Heal Wounds and Improve Skin Health

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Government College University, Lahore, found that Vachellia nilotica nanoparticles (VNNPs) significantly improved wound healing in diabetic mice
  • VNNPs achieved 100% wound contraction by the 12th day, reducing inflammation and promoting blood vessel, fibroblast, and keratinocyte formation
  • VNNPs also lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, while increasing tissue repair markers, indicating enhanced healing mechanisms
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that often leads to impaired wound healing, posing significant challenges for patients. Researchers at Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan, have conducted a study to explore new treatments for diabetic wounds using various biomaterials[1]. The study focused on the effects of Vachellia nilotica extract (VN), Nigella sativa extract (NS), V. nilotica nanoparticles (VNNPs), and N. sativa nanoparticles (NSNPs) on wound healing in diabetic mice. In this study, diabetes was induced in Swiss albino mice using alloxan monohydrate, a chemical that selectively destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Subsequently, the researchers created excision wounds of approximately 6 mm using a biopsy punch. The diabetic wounds were then treated with the aforementioned biomaterials. The researchers evaluated the percent wound contraction, healing time, and conducted histopathological analysis to determine the efficacy of these treatments. The results were promising, particularly for the VNNPs group, which showed 100% wound contraction by the 12th day. Histopathological examination revealed that VNNPs significantly reduced inflammation and promoted the formation of blood vessels, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes, which are crucial for wound healing. The study also measured serum levels of various biochemical markers, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The VNNPs group demonstrated a substantial reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines with TNF-α levels at 19.4 ± 1.5 pg/mL, IL-6 at 13.8 ± 0.6 pg/mL, and IL-8 at 24.8 ± 1.2 pg/mL, compared to the diabetic control group. Additionally, the levels of MMP2, MMP7, and MMP9 were significantly lower in the VNNPs group, indicating reduced tissue degradation. The TIMPs levels were notably higher, suggesting enhanced tissue repair mechanisms. These findings build on previous research that has explored the wound-healing properties of natural products. For instance, earlier studies have shown that Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed, has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in the healing of skin infections[2]. Another study highlighted the broad pharmacological benefits of N. sativa, including its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities[3]. Additionally, research on the combination of garlic, turmeric, and fibroin extracts demonstrated significant wound healing capabilities in diabetic models[4]. The current study's use of nanoparticles is particularly noteworthy. Nanoparticles can enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of medicinal compounds. In this case, VNNPs and NSNPs were shown to be more effective than their crude extract counterparts. This aligns with previous findings where silver and Ag-ZnO composite nanoparticles exhibited superior wound-healing properties compared to conventional treatments[5]. In summary, the research conducted by Government College University, Lahore, demonstrates that nanoparticles and biomaterials possess significant healing properties and have the potential to repair chronic and diabetic wounds effectively. The study's findings suggest that VNNPs, in particular, could be a promising treatment for diabetic wounds, offering a faster and more efficient healing process.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) UV-spectrophotometric and spectroscopic observed Vachellia nilotica and Nigella sativa formulations regularized the histopathological and biochemical parameters during wound contraction.

Published 17th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24673

Related Studies

2) Influence of Nigella sativa fixed oil on some blood parameters and histopathology of skin in staphylococcal-infected BALB/c mice.

Journal: Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS, Issue: Vol 14, Issue 23, Dec 2011

3) An updated knowledge of Black seed (Nigella sativa Linn.): Review of phytochemical constituents and pharmacological properties.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100404

4) Therapeutic Applications of Garlic and Turmeric for the Diabetic Wound Healing in Mice.

https://doi.org/10.1093/jbcr/irac169

5) Enhanced wound healing activity of Ag-ZnO composite NPs in Wistar Albino rats.

https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-nbt.2017.0087


Related Articles

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙