Comparative Studies on the Antioxidant, Antifungal, and Wound Healing Activities of Solenostemma arghel Ethyl Acetate and Methanolic Extracts

Nanosponge hydrogel of octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate of Alcaligenes faecalis

Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate (ODHP) was extracted in a previous study from the culture broth of soil isolate Alcaligenes faecalis MT332429 and showed a promising antimycotic activity. This study was aimed to formulate ODHP loaded β-cyclodextrins (CD) nanosponge (NS) hydrogel (HG) to control skin fungal ailments since nanosponges augment the retention of tested agents in the skin. Box-Behnken design was used to produce the optimized NS formulation, where entrapment efficiency percent (EE%), polydispersity index (PDI), and particle size (PS) were assigned as dependent parameters, while the independent process parameters were polyvinyl alcohol % (w/v %), polymer-linker ratio, homogenization time, and speed. The carbopol 940 hydrogel was then created by incorporating the nanosponges. The hydrogel fit Higuchi's kinetic release model the best, according to in vitro drug release. Stability and photodegradation studies revealed that the NS-HG remained stable under tested conditions. The formulation also showed higher in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared to the control fluconazole. In vivo study showed that ODHP-NS-HG increased survival rates, wound contraction, and healing of wound gap and inhibited the inflammation process compared to the other control groups. The histopathological examinations and Masson's trichrome staining showed improved healing and higher records of collagen deposition. Moreover, the permeability of ODHP-NS-HG was higher through rats' skin by 1.5-folds compared to the control isoconazole 1%. Therefore, based on these results, NS-HG formulation is a potential carrier for enhanced and improved topical delivery of ODHP. Our study is a pioneering research on the development of a formulation for ODHP produced naturally from soil bacteria. KEY POINTS: • Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate was successfully formulated as a nanosponge hydrogel and statistically optimized. • The new formula exhibited in vitro good stability, drug release, and higher antifungal activity against C. albicans as compared to the fluconazole. • Ex vivo showed enhanced skin permeability, and in vivo analysis showed high antifungal activity as evidenced by measurement of various biochemical parameters and histopathological examination.

Evaluation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells with eggshell membrane for full-thickness wound healing in a rabbit model

Biomaterials capable of managing wounds should have essential features like providing a natural microenvironment for wound healing and as support material for stimulating tissue growth. Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a highly produced global waste due to increased egg consumption. The unique and fascinating properties of ESM allow their potential application in tissue regeneration. The wound healing capacity of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), ESM, and their combination in rabbits with full-thickness skin defect (2 × 2 cm2) was evaluated. Twenty-five clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits were divided into five groups of five animals each, with group A receiving no treatment (control group), group B receiving only fibrin glue (FG), group C receiving FG and ESM as a dressing, group D receiving FG and BM-MSCs, and group E receiving a combination of FG, ESM, and BM-MSCs. Wound healing was assessed using clinical, macroscopical, photographic, histological, histochemical, hematological, and biochemical analysis. Macroscopic examination of wounds revealed that healing was exceptional in group E, followed by groups D and C, compared to the control group. Histopathological findings revealed improved quality and a faster rate of healing in group E compared to groups A and B. In addition, healing in group B treated with topical FG alone was nearly identical to that in control group A. However, groups C and D showed improved and faster recovery than control groups A and B. The macroscopic, photographic, histological, and histochemical evaluations revealed that the combined use of BM-MSCs, ESM, and FG had superior and faster healing than the other groups.

Essential oils from Plumbago europaea L. aerial parts (leaves, flowers): GC-MS analyses and literature biological properties

Plumbago europaea L. belongs to the family Plumbaginaceae, which has many medicinal and nutritional applications. It is among the significant medicinal herbs used widely in folk medicine in Syria to treat skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. There are no previous studies of the aerial parts' essential oils of this plant. So, herein we report on determining the chemical composition of essential oils extracted from the aerial parts of P. europaea L., which were collected from a mountainous area in Latakia Province, Syria, by utilising the GC-MS technique. The major compounds identified in the flower's essential oils were: plumbagin (32.4%), hexadecanoic acid (13.79%), heneicosane (9.03%) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol (8.40%). While in the leaves' essential oils were phytol (17.97%), dibutyl phthalate (15.45%), heneicosane (6.91%) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (6.72%). In addition, according to the published literature, most of the identified compounds have been reported to exhibit significant biological activities.

In Vivo Wound-Healing Effect of Chemical and Green Synthesized Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Lawsonia inermis Ethanolic Extract

Wounds can be a result of surgery, an accident, or other factors. There is still a challenge to find effective topical wound-healing agents. This study aims to investigate the wound-healing activity of chemical and green synthesized chitosan nanoparticles (Ch-NPs) using Lawsonia inermis leaves extract. The nanoparticles were morphologically and chemically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Forty-five adult female albino rats were randomly divided into three groups. The cutaneous surgical wounds were topically treated with 0.9% normal saline (control group), green Ch-NPs (second group), and chemical Ch-NPs gels (third group), respectively. The clinical picture of wounds and histopathological changes were assessed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days post-treatment. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed great crystallinity and purity of nanoparticles. The studied nanoparticles increased the wound contraction percent (WC%), reduced healing time and wound surface area (WSA), and these results were backed up by histological findings that indicated improved epithelialization, dermal differentiation, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis in treated rats compared with control rats (p < 0.05). We concluded that the wound-healing effects of the studied nanoparticles are encouraging, and further studies for complete assessment are still needed.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Wound Healing Properties of 80% Methanol Extract and Solvent Fractions of the Leaves of Vernonia auriculifera Hiern. (Asteraceae)

Background

The leaves of Vernonia auriculifera (Asteraceae) have traditionally been used to treat wounds in several regions of Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess the wound healing properties of the leaf extract and solvent fractions of V. auriculifera in mice. The leaf extract and solvent fractions of V. auriculifera have also been evaluated for their anti-oxidant properties because of their impact on the wound healing process.

Material and Methods

Air-dried leaves were extracted using 80% methanol. They were also successively fractionated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The residue was then macerated in water for 72 hr. Simple ointment bases were formulated according to British Pharmacopoeia. Thereafter, two types of ointment formulations, 2.5% w/w and 5% w/w, were formulated. Wound healing and acute dermal toxicity studies were performed on mice. To assess free radical scavenging activity, a 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) assay was performed.

Results

In both models, wounds treated with 2.5% and 5% (w/w) of the ME, the aqueous fraction (AQF), methanol fraction (MEF), and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) ointments demonstrated significant wound healing activity, as shown by enhanced wound contraction, a shortened epithelialization time, increased hydroxyproline content, and enhanced tissue breaking strength. The extract and solvent fractions displayed free radical scavenging activity with IC50 values of 1.2 mg/mL, 1.46 mg/mL, 1.5 mg/mL, and 2.83 mg/mL for ME, AQF, MEF, and EAF, respectively, as compared to 1.42 mg/mL for ascorbic acid.

Conclusion

The result of this study indicates that 80% of methanol extract and solvent fractions are endowed with wound healing activity. Additionally, this study has also revealed that ME, AQF, MEF, and EAF have the capacity to scavenge free radicals. The study indicated that the wound healing effect could be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

The antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and wound healing properties of ethyl acetate crude extract of an endophytic fungus Paecilomyces sp. (AUMC 15510) in earthworm model

The endophytic fungus Paecilomyces sp. (AUMC 15510) was isolated from healthy stem samples of the Egyptian medicinal plant Cornulaca monacantha. We used GC-MS and HPLC analysis to identify the bioactive constituents of ethyl acetate crude extract of Paecilomyces sp. (PsEAE). Six human microbial pathogens have been selected to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of PsEAE. Our data showed that the extract has significant antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens. However, the best inhibitory effect was observed against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 90274 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.9 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 15.6 μg/ml, for both pathogens. Also, PsEAE exerts a significant inhibition on the biofilm formation of the previously mentioned pathogenic strains. In addition, we evaluated the wound healing efficiency of PsEAE on earthworms (Lumbricus castaneus) as a feasible and plausible model that mimics human skin. Interestingly, PsEAE exhibited a promising wound healing activity and enhanced wound closure. In conclusion, Paecilomyces sp. (AUMC 15510) could be a sustainable source of antimicrobial agents and a potential therapeutic target for wound management.