Wound-healing properties have been suggested for Alchemilla vulgaris. Since epithelial and myofibroblast cell growth is required for wound healing, the effects of A. vulgaris on cell growth were investigated in Chang liver and Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) epithelial cell lines and rat aortic myofibroblast cultures. Putative healing properties were investigated on dorsal circular 8 mm excisional skin lesions in adult male rats. Cell numbers increased with 0.1-1% A. vulgaris, attaining 21.3 +/- 2.1%, 15.5 +/- 2.25% and 10.6 +/- 0.6% in MDBK, myofibroblast and Chang liver cells, respectively (p < 0.005). No morphological changes or cytotoxicity were noted. In rats A. vulgaris (3%)-treated lesions were significantly decreased in diameter by 10.0 +/- 0.7% (p < 0.005) after 2 days of treatment. On day 3 of treatment, the lesion diameter was significantly reduced by 15.9 +/- 1.1% in glycerine vehicle-treated rats compared with distilled water (p < 0.005), whereas that in A. vulgaris-treated rats was reduced further by 23.2 +/- 1.4% (p < 0.005). Glycerine alone significantly reduced the lesion diameter between days 3 and 5 but complete healing occurred a day earlier in A. vulgaris-treated rats. The results demonstrate wound-healing properties of A. vulgaris associated with promitotic activity in epithelial cells and myofibroblasts.
The beneficial effects of Omega n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n - 3 PUFA) in situations of cognitive impairment may be associated with enhanced neuronal growth. Since neuronal growth is impaired in n - 3 PUFA deficiency, and enhanced by certain vitamins and trace elements, the effects of n - 3 PUFA, vitamin and mineral cell complex (VMC) and their association on neuronal growth were investigated in cultured rat neuroblastoma cells. Treatment of cells for 3 days with n - 3 PUFA significantly enhanced neurite length without affecting the number of neurites or cells. VMC significantly increased cell number without affecting neurite length or their number. Combined n - 3 PUFA and VMC significantly enhanced all three growth parameters. The data confirm the growth promoting effects of n - 3 PUFA and VMC in cultured neurons over a relatively short time frame.
Incidence of chronic wounds is constantly rising worldwide, but all currently available treatments are intended either to provide symptomatic relief or to assist cicatrization to some extent, but not to directly stimulate cellular growth. Physiologically, chronic wound healing simply requires cell growth to fill the injured cavity. To grow, our cells need to attach onto a cushion, called extracellular matrix (ECM), secreted by the mother cells and composed of multiple proteins. Recent scientific works prove that the concentration of certain matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is extremely high in all chronic wounds and, because of their proteolytic nature, some MMPs completely degrade the ECM, hindering cell attachment and cell growth. The aim of this study was to identify, neutralize, and eliminate these MMPs from the wound surface so as to design an effective treatment for chronic wounds. Methods: Acute and chronic models of human epithelial and fibroblast cells were prepared on a defined ECM cushion in vitro and MMPs were added in the culture medium to identify the MMPs causing ECM disintegration for each cell type. ECM-degrading MMPs were then incubated with selected procyanidin-rich plant extracts (PCDs) and cell growth was reanalyzed. Results: It was observed that: 1) multiple MMPs are involved in cellular matrix destruction; 2) ECM-destroying MMPs are specific with respect to cell type; and 3) specific PCDs may bind and neutralize selected MMPs. Conclusion: Topical application of specific plant PCDs to selectively neutralize ECMdestroying MMPs in acute and chronic wounds represents a novel approach for the treatment of superficial and deep skin wounds.
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