Post-burn trauma significantly raises tissue serotonin concentration at the initial stages of injury, which leads us to investigate its possible role in post burn wound healing. Therefore, we planned this study to examine the role of serotonin in wound healing through in vitro and in vivo models of burn injuries. Results from in vitro analysis revealed that serotonin decreased apoptosis and increased cell survival significantly in human fibroblasts and neonatal keratinocytes. Cellular proliferation also increased significantly in both cell types. Moreover, serotonin stimulation significantly accelerated the cell migration, resulting in narrowing of the scratch zone in human neonatal keratinocytes and fibroblasts cultures. Whereas, fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and ketanserin (serotonin receptor 2A inhibitor) reversed these effects. Scald burn mice model (20% total body surface area) showed that endogenous serotonin improved wound healing process in control group, whereas fluoxetine and ketanserin treatments (disruptors of endogenous serotonin stimulation), resulted in poor reepithelization, bigger wound size and high alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) count. All of these signs refer a prolonged differentiation state, which ultimately exhibits poor wound healing outcomes. Collectively, data showed that the endogenous serotonin pathway contributes to regulating the skin wound healing process. Hence, the results of this study signify the importance of serotonin as a potential therapeutic candidate for enhancing skin healing in burn patients.

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Objective: To Determine the phytochemical composition of E. sativa (stem, leaves, flowers and seeds), and evaluate their antioxidant activity. Method: Preliminary phytochemical screening for all parts of E. sativa (stem, leaves, flowers and seeds) was carried out according to standard methods. Total phenolic contents of all methanolic extracts of E. sativa, have been quantified spectrophotometrically. Hydrogen Peroxidase and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assays have been used to analyze antioxidant characteristics of all extracts of E. sativa (leaves, stem, seed, flowers and seeds). Further separation and identification of number of phenolic compounds has been carried out by Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC). Results: Experimental evaluation indicated that E. sativa is a rich source of secondary phytoconstituents (Alkaloids, flavonoids, Diterpenes, Coumarins, polyphenols, tannins, cardiac glycosides etc). Quantification of total phenolic contents from all aerial parts revealed that they contain significant amount of phenolics particularly seeds and leaves (27.1 ± 0.2 mg, 23.07 ± 0.11GAE/g) respectively. Searation and identification of phenolics from E. sativa stem, leaves, flowers and seeds extracts through RP-HPLC showed presence of variety of important phenolics namely; Vanillin (RT=3.853), Ellagic acid (RT=4.04), Salicylic acid (RT=19.09), Resorcinol (RT=3.30), Catechol (RT=3.53), Quercetin (RT=18.91), Benzoic acid (RT=10.4), Tannic acid (RT=5.06), Kaempferol (RT=8.70) and Rutin (RT=9.2). Conclusion: Results revealed that E. sativa is a rich source of secondary phytoconstituents which impart significant antioxidant potential. This work also contributes significantly to support the claim about the use of this herb in folk medicines. Further investigation regarding isolation and purification of a number of phytoconstituents from leaves, stem, flowers and seeds of E. sativa may yield optimal combinations of therapeutic alternates.