1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and Ulcer

Blechnum orientale Linn. (B. orientale) is a fern traditionally used by the natives as a poultice to treat wounds, boils, ulcers, blisters, abscesses, and sores on the skin.. To investigate the wound healing ability of a concentrated extract of B. orientale in a hydrogel formulation in healing diabetic ulcer wounds.. The water extract from the leaves of B. orientale was separated from the crude methanolic extract and subjected to flash column chromatography techniques to produce concentrated fractions. These fractions were tested for phytochemical composition, tannin content, antioxidative and antibacterial activity. The bioactive fraction was formulated into a sodium carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel. The extract-loaded hydrogels were then characterized and tested on excision ulcer wounds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Wound size was measured for 14 days. Histopathological studies were conducted on the healed wound tissues to observe for epithelisation, fibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis. All possible mean values were subjected to statistical analysis using One-way ANOVA and post-hoc with Tukey's T-test (P<0.05).. One fraction exhibited strong antioxidative and antibacterial activity. The fraction was also highly saturated with tannins, particularly condensed tannins. Fraction W5-1 exhibited stronger antioxidant activity compared to three standards (α-Tocopherol, BHT and Trolox-C). Antibacterial activity was also present, and notably bactericidal towards Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at 0.25mg/ml. The extract-loaded hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning properties, with high moisture retention ability. The bioactive fraction at 4% w/w was shown to be able to close diabetic wounds by Day 12 on average. Other groups, including controls, only exhibited wound closure by Day 14 (or not at all). Histopathological studies had also shown that extract-treated wounds exhibited re-epithelisation, higher fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis.. The ethnopharmacological effects of using B. orientale as a topical treatment for external wounds was validated and was also significantly effective in treating diabetic ulcer wounds. Thus, B. orientale extract hydrogel may be presented as a potential treatment for diabetic ulcer wounds.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Bacteria; Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Proliferation; Collagen; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetic Angiopathies; Ferns; Fibroblasts; Hydrogels; Hydroxyproline; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Phytotherapy; Picrates; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Re-Epithelialization; Skin; Streptozocin; Tannins; Time Factors; Ulcer; Wound Healing

Decoctions prepared from the bark of Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) G. L. Webster (Euphorbiaceae) are used in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa in the treatment of wounds and ulcers. The study was conducted to investigate the gastric ulcer protective effect of ethanolic stem bark extract of M. discoidea in rats.. Antiulcer assays were performed using ethanol, indomethacin and pylorus ligation-induced ulcer models at the dose of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg, p.o. The antioxidant effect of the extract was evaluated in vitro and by studying its effect on antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione) and lipid peroxidation in the stomach tissue of rats in ethanol-induced model. Solvent fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous) from the crude extract were investigated for antiulcerogenic effects in ethanol-induced ulcer model at the dose of 150 mg/kg. GC-MS analysis of the active hexane fraction was also carried out.. The extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced gastric lesion in ethanol and indomethacin-induced ulcer models. The extract had significant influence on in vivo antioxidant status in ethanol-induced model. In pylorus ligation-induced model, only the dose of 150 mg/kg showed significant reduction (88.89%, P<0.05) of ulcer lesions. There was no significant reduction in the gastric juice volume and total acidity. The solvent fractions showed ulcer inhibition in varying degrees but significance (P<0.01) was only observed in the hexane fraction. Ethyl esters of palmitic and linoleic acids were found as the major compounds in the GC-MS analysis of the hexane fraction.. Our results suggest that M. discoidea possesses gastroprotective activity possibly mediated through antioxidant mechanism. The data obtained in this study provide some support to the traditional use of M. discoidea in the treatment of gastric ulcer.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Antioxidants; Biphenyl Compounds; Ethanol; Euphorbiaceae; Gastric Mucosa; Hydroxyl Radical; Indomethacin; Male; Mice; Phytotherapy; Picrates; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts; Plant Stems; Pylorus; Rats, Wistar; Ulcer