B. Shivananda Nayak

Effects of Hibiscus rosa sinensis L (Malvaceae) on wound healing activity: a preclinical study in a Sprague Dawley rat.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis (H rosa sinensis), a plant product, has been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases as well as to promote wound healing. The wound-healing activity of the ethanol extract of H rosa sinensis flower was determined in rats, using excision, incision, and dead space wound models and is presented in this report. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups of 6 each in all the models. Test group animals in each model were treated with the ethanol extract of H rosa sinensis orally by mixing in drinking water (120 mg kg— 1 day—1), and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, tensile strength (skin breaking strength), granulation tissue weight, and hydroxyproline content. The antimicrobial activity of the flower extract against selected microorganisms that infect the wounds was also assessed. Animals treated with the extract exhibited an 86% reduction in the wound area compared with controls, who exhibited a 75% reduction. The extract-treated animals were found to epithelize their wounds significantly faster than controls (P < .002) and have shown significantly higher skin-breaking strength than controls (P < .002). The dry and wet weight of granulation tissue and hydroxyproline content were also increased significantly when compared with controls. The reported observations suggest H rosa sinensis aids wound healing in the rat model.

Relationship between inflammatory markers, metabolic and anthropometric variables in the Caribbean type 2 diabetic patients with and without microvascular complications

BackgroundSerum sialic acid and C reactive protein are the markers for inflammation. The main objective of this study was to determine the sialic acid level in Caribbean type 2 diabetic patients with and without microvascular complications and its relationship with metabolic and anthropometric variables.Research design and methodsThe Caribbean subjects aged 15–60 years with type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 162 subjects of which 44 were healthy individuals, 44 were of type 2 diabetes, 44 were of type 2 diabetes with nephropathy and 30 were of diabetes with retinopathy. Simultaneously urine samples were also collected from each of the subjects. All the blood samples were processed for lipid profile, glucose, HbA1C, C-reactive protein and sialic acid. The urine samples were analysed for sialic acid and microalbumin.ResultsSerum sialic acid concentrations were significantly higher among diabetic subjects (66.0 ± 11.7 mg %) as compared to controls (55.2 ± 8.3 mg %). There was a significantly increasing trend of serum sialic acid with severity of nephropathy (71.6 ± 23.6 mg %) and degree of urinary albumin excretion (794.3 ± 805.9). The diabetic retinopathy patients also demonstrated significantly higher values of serum sialic acid (77.9 ± 29.0) and urine microalbumin (351.1 ± 559.9). Elevated serum sialic acid microalbumin concentrations were associated with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, increased waist to hip ratios. (P < 0.05). Sialic acid had no correlation with CRP or any component of the lipid profile.ConclusionThe increased serum sialic acid and microalbumin were strongly related to the presence of microvascular complications like diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy and cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and waist to hip ratios in Caribbean type-2 diabetic patients. The serum sialic acid may be used as an inflammatory marker and possible indicator of microvascular complications in type-2 diabetic patients.

Hypoglycemic and Hepatoprotective Activity of Fermented Fruit Juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) in Diabetic Rats.

Morinda citrifolia is a medicinal plant used to treat diabetes and liver diseases. The fermented fruit juice of the M. Citrifolia (optical density = 1.25) was used to study the hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective properties in diabetes-induced rats. The rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups (control, diabetic experimental, diabetic standard, and diabetic untreated) of 6 each. Diabetes was induced by administering Streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). Fasting blood glucose, body mass, liver tissue glycogen content, and the extent of liver degeneration were assessed. Diabetic experimental animals were treated with M. citrifolia juice (2 ml/kg, twice a day) and diabetic standard with reference hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide orally for 20 days. Both the groups exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose level of 150 mg/dl ±15.88 and 125 mg/dl ±3.89, respectively, as compared to diabetic untreated with FBS = 360.0 mg/dl ±15.81, (P < .003). On 10th day of experiment, diabetic experimental animals exhibited a decrease in body mass (10.2 g, 5.11%) which increased significantly by the 20th day (6 g, 3.0%, P < .022). Histological study of liver tissue obtained from untreated diabetic animals revealed significant fatty degeneration as compared to other three groups. The data of this study proved the hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective activity of M. citrifolia.

Experimental evaluation of ethanolic extract of Carapa guianensis L. Leaf for its wound healing activity using three wound models.

The leaves of Carapa guianensis have been used to treat ulcers, skin parasites, and skin problems. The ethanolic extract of C. guianensis leaf was evaluated for its antibacterial and wound healing activity using excision, incision and dead space wound models in rats. The animals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 6) in all the models. In the excision wound model test group animals were treated topically with the leaf extract (250 mg kg−1 body weight) whereas, control animals were treated with petroleum jelly. In the incision and dead space wound models, the test group animals were treated with extract (250 mg kg−1 day−1) orally by mixing in drinking water and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, skin breaking strength, granulation tissue weight and hydoxyproline content. On Day 15 extract-treated animals exhibited 100% reduction in the wound area when compared to controls (95%) with significant decrease in the epithelialization period. The extract failed to demonstrate antibacterial activity. Skin breaking strength (P < .001), wet (P < .002) and dry (P < .02) granulation tissue and hydroxyproline content (P < .03) were significantly higher in extract treated animals. The increased rate of wound contraction, skin breaking strength and hydroxyproline content supports potential application of C. guianensis in wound healing.

Cecropia peltata L(Cecropiaceae) Has Wound-Healing Potential: A Preclinical Study in a Sprague Dawley Rat Model

The plant Cecropia peltata is used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of disorders. The objective of the study presented in this report was to screen the extracts of this plant leaf for its wound-healing properties based on its traditional use for wound healing. Aqueous and ethanol extracts were prepared for topical and oral administration. The dose studied was 150 mgkg -1 day -1 for 10 days, using the excision wound model in rats. Carboxymethyl cellulose (1%) was used as control in topical and oral route studies. Animals were randomized to treatment or control, the experiment being done with prior ethical approval from the university. Wound areas were measured. On day 11, tissue was excised to determine the contents of protein, hydroxyproline, and hexosamine. Wound areas reduced statistically significantly in all treatment groups compared to respective controls (P < .001). Biochemistry and tissue histology outcomes were consistent with changes in the treatment groups. No differences were detected within the treatment groups. The study permits the conclusion that Crecopia peltata has wound-healing potential.

Wound-healing Properties of the Oils of Vitis vinifera and Vaccinium macrocarpon

Vitis vinifera (grape) and Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) are well known medicinal plants; most of the pharmacologically active phytochemicals have been isolated from the skin, fruit juice, fermented extract and alcohol fractions of the plants above. Here, the pharmacological properties of the phytochemical constituents present in oils of cranberry and grape were investigated. The oil of grape and cranberry has been evaluated for their wound healing activity by using an excision wound model in rats. The animals were divided into four groups of six each (n = 6). The experimental group 1 and 2 animals were treated topically with the grape and cranberry oil (100 mg/kg body weight), respectively. The controls were treated with petroleum jelly. The standard group of animals were treated with mupirocin ointment (100 mg/kg body weight). The healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content. On day 13, animals treated with cranberry oil exhibited a (88.1%) reduction in the wound area compared with grape‐oil treated (84.6%), controls (74.1%) and standard group animals (78.4%) (p < 0.001). The hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue was significantly higher in the animals treated with cranberry and the grape‐oil (p < 0.000). Comparative investigation of the curative properties of the oils of V. vinifera and V. macrocarpon revealed a significant result which suggests their wound‐healing potential. Copyright

Plasma adiponectin levels are related to obesity, inflammation, blood lipids and insulin in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic Trinidadians

AIMS To determine the relationship between plasma adiponectin levels and obesity, inflammation, blood lipids and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics (T2DM) and non-diabetics in a patient population in Trinidad. METHODS A cohort study of a total of 126 type 2 diabetic (42 males and 84 females) and 140 (43 males and 97 females) non-diabetic public clinic attendees were assessed between December 2008 and July 2009. Along with clinical history and anthropometry, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, lipid profile, glucose, and insulin were measured in fasting blood samples and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. RESULTS Diabetics had higher (p<0.05) glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides (TG), VLDL and systolic blood pressure than non-diabetics, but lower (p<0.05) HDL and adiponectin levels. Adiponectin levels were lower (p<0.05) in obese than in non-obese individuals regardless of diabetic status. There were significant gender differences in HDL, LDL and TG. Among non-obese persons, adiponectin correlated negatively with triglycerides (r=-0.280; adiponectin), IL-6 (r=-0.216; p<0.005), HOMA-IR (r=-0.373; p=000) and positively correlated with HDL (r=0.355; p=0.000). Diabetic status (p=0.025), TNF-α (p=0.048) and BMI (p=0.027) were identified as useful predictors of adiponectin by multiple linear regression methods. In addition binary logistic regression analysis found glucose (p=0.001) and adiponectin (p=0.047) to be useful indicators of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Adiponectin decreases with increasing adiposity and insulin resistance. Adiponectin and TNF-α appear to be related to differences in the insulin mediated glucose turnover.

Wound-healing activity of the skin of the common grape (Vitis Vinifera) variant, Cabernet Sauvignon.

The common Grape L. (Vitaceae) is regarded as an important medicinal plant. European healers have suggested the use of grapevine sap, juice, and whole grape in the treatment of pain, allergic reactions, inflammation, and to promote wound healing. We evaluated grape‐skin powder for its wound‐healing activity using an excision wound model in rats. Animals were randomly divided into three groups of six (n = 6) each. The test group animals were treated topically with the grape‐skin powder (100 mg/kg/day). The controls and standard group animals were treated with petroleum jelly and mupirocin ointment respectively. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, and hydroxyproline content. On day 13, treatment of the wounds with grape‐skin powder enhanced significantly the rate of wound contraction (100 %). Treated animals showed significant decrease in the epithelialization period (p < 0.000) and increase in the hydroxyproline content (p < 0.05) when compared to control and the standard. Histological analysis was also consistent with the proposal that grape‐skin powder exhibits significant wound‐healing potential. Increased rate of wound contraction, hydroxyproline content, and decrease in epithelialization time in the treated animals support the use of grape‐skin powder in the management of wound healing. Copyright

Evaluation of wound healing activity of Lantana camara L. – a Preclinical study

Lantana camara is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of skin itches, as an antiseptic for wounds, and externally for leprosy and scabies. The objective of our study was to investigate excision wound healing activity of the leaf extract of L. camara in rats. The animals were divided into two groups of 12 each in both the models. The test group animals were treated with the aqueous extract of L. camara (100 mg/kg/day) topically and the control group animals were left untreated. Wound healing efficacy was measured by determining the morphological and biochemical parameters. Wound healing time, wound contraction and synthesis of collagen were monitored periodically. Antimicrobial activities of the extract against the microorganisms were also assessed. Treatment of the wounds with extract enhanced significantly the rate of wound contraction (98%), synthesis of collagen and decreased mean wound healing time. These studies demonstrate that L. camara is effective in healing excision wounds in the experimental animal and could be evaluated as a therapeutic agent in tissue repair processes associated with skin injuries. Copyright

Investigation of the Wound Healing Activity of Carapa guianensis L. (Meliaceae) Bark Extract in Rats Using Excision, Incision, and Dead Space Wound Models

The objective of our study is to investigate the wound healing activity of the bark extract of Carapa guianensis in rats using three different wound models. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of six each in all the models. Test group animals were treated topically with the bark extract (200 mg/kg of body weight), and the controls were treated with petroleum jelly in the excision wound model. In the incision and dead space wound models the test group animals were treated with the extract of C. guianensis (200 mg/kg/day) orally by mixing in drinking water, and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, skin breaking strength, granulation tissue weight, and hydoxyproline content. Antimicrobial activities of the extract against the microorganisms were also assessed. On day 15 extract-treated animals exhibited 99% reduction in the wound area compared to controls (93%). The extract-treated wounds were found to epithelialize faster than controls (P < .02). The skin breaking strength was significantly higher in extract-treated animals compared to controls (P < .001). The weight and hydroxyproline content of granulation tissue were significantly increased compared to controls. These observations support the use of C. guianensis is in the management of wound healing.