Evaluation of the Wound Healing Potential of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. (Asteraceae) by In Vivo Excision and Incision Models

Esra Küpeli Akkol,Demet Yilmazer,Ufuk Koca,Ipek Pesin

doi:10.1093/ecam/nep039

Abstract

Achillea species are widely used for diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomachache and healing of wounds in folk medicine. To evaluate the wound healing activity of the plant, extracts were prepared with different solvents; hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol, respectively from the roots of Achillea biebersteinii. Linear incision by using tensiometer and circular excision wound models were employed on mice and rats. The wound healing effect was comparatively evaluated with the standard skin ointment Madecassol. The n-hexane extract treated groups of animals showed 84.2% contraction, which was close to contraction value of the reference drug Madecassol (100%). On the other hand the same extract on incision wound model demonstrated a significant increase (40.1%) in wound tensile strength as compared to other groups. The results of histoptological examination supported the outcome of linear incision and circular excision wound models as well. The experimental data demonstrated that A. biebersteinii displayed remarkable wound healing activity.

Highlights

The genus Achillea (Asteraceae), named after the mythological Greek warrior Achilles, who used Achillea species for healing wounded-soldiers during the Trojan War [1]
An enquiry on wound healing activity of the n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts prepared from aerial parts of A. biebersteinii, which has been used in the treatment of wounds was carried out on mice and on rats by excision and linear incision wound models to verify the claimed traditional use of the plant on a scientific base
The measurements of the progress of wound healing induced by the extracts, reference drug, negative control and vehicle groups in the excision wound model are shown in contraction on day twelfth, value of the reference drug wMhaicdhecwasassoclÖlos(e1t0o0%co)n. tOranctitohne given days, other extracts showed no significant results

Summary

Introduction

The genus Achillea (Asteraceae), named after the mythological Greek warrior Achilles, who used Achillea species for healing wounded-soldiers during the Trojan War [1]. The genus Achillea comprises of ∼85 species, most of which are endemic to Europe and the Middle East. Turkish flora possesses 42 Achillea species and 23 of them are endemic [2]. These species have some interesting properties and are used in cosmetics, fragrances and agriculture, for example, plant protection [3]. Some Achillea species have been known to be ethnopharmacologically used in folk remedies for various purposes such as hemorrhoid and wound healing [4]. Herbal teas prepared from some Achillea species are very often used in folk medicine as diuretic, for abdominal pain, against diarrhea, flatulence and emmenagog, for wound healing purposses, in Turkey [5,6,7]

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