EFFECT OF OPERCULINA ALATA IN WOUND HEALING IN MICE: MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC EVALUATION OF THE INFLAMMATORY PHASE

Abstract

Objective: Characterization of the effect in the inflammatory phase of the use of Operculina alata (tincture of jalapa) popularly applied in the treatment of cutaneous wounds. Study Design: Male Swiss mice (9 weeks, n = 5 per group, CEUA-UFAL:047/2017) were anesthetized to perform excisional lesion (Ø = 1 cm) on the dorsal skin and daily topical treatment with 50 μL saline or hydroalcoholic solution (controls) or experimental pure O. alata or diluted to 1% (10 mg/mL). Initial baseline and 3 postinjury days were obtained for macroscopic analysis of the wound area. The lesions were collected at the end of the period for histologic processing and morphologic analysis. For statistical analysis, (GraphPad Prism 5.0) analysis of variance or Student t test was performed. Results: Macroscopic examination of the initial wound showed no difference between the groups, with significant intragroup reduction at 4 days in relation to the day of the wound (P< .05). In the quantitative microscopic analysis, the 1% experimental group demonstrated a better resolution of the inflammatory process with an increase in the percentage of macrophages and lymphocytes, without inhibition of the recruitment of neutrophils. Conclusion: According to the methodology applied the results obtained suggest that the topical application of 1% jalapa tincture accelerates the inflammatory phase of wound healing in mice by greater chemotaxis of macrophages. Objective: Characterization of the effect in the inflammatory phase of the use of Operculina alata (tincture of jalapa) popularly applied in the treatment of cutaneous wounds. Study Design: Male Swiss mice (9 weeks, n = 5 per group, CEUA-UFAL:047/2017) were anesthetized to perform excisional lesion (Ø = 1 cm) on the dorsal skin and daily topical treatment with 50 μL saline or hydroalcoholic solution (controls) or experimental pure O. alata or diluted to 1% (10 mg/mL). Initial baseline and 3 postinjury days were obtained for macroscopic analysis of the wound area. The lesions were collected at the end of the period for histologic processing and morphologic analysis. For statistical analysis, (GraphPad Prism 5.0) analysis of variance or Student t test was performed. Results: Macroscopic examination of the initial wound showed no difference between the groups, with significant intragroup reduction at 4 days in relation to the day of the wound (P< .05). In the quantitative microscopic analysis, the 1% experimental group demonstrated a better resolution of the inflammatory process with an increase in the percentage of macrophages and lymphocytes, without inhibition of the recruitment of neutrophils. Conclusion: According to the methodology applied the results obtained suggest that the topical application of 1% jalapa tincture accelerates the inflammatory phase of wound healing in mice by greater chemotaxis of macrophages.