In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Potential of Thymus Sipyleus Boiss. Subsp. Rosulans (Borbas) Jalas.

Oya Ustuner,Seyyal Ak,Fulya Ustun-Alkan,Ceylan Donmez,Ufuk Koca-Caliskan,Ceren Anlas,Huseyin Askin Akpulat,Tulay Bakirel,Belgi Diren Sigirci

doi:10.3390/molecules24183353

Abstract

Thymus sipyleus Boiss. subsp. rosulans (Borbas) Jalas (TS) is a commonly used plant in the treatment of various complaints, including skin wounds in Turkish folk medicine. Despite the widespread traditional use of TS, there is not any scientific report confirming the effectiveness of this plant on the healing process. This research aimed to investigate the effects of different extracts obtained from TS on biological events during wound healing, on a cellular basis. In this context, proliferative activities of the extracts, as well as the effects on wound closure and hydroxyproline synthesis, were determined. In addition to wound healing properties, the antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts were evaluated. Decoction (D) and infusion (I) extracts contained the highest amount of phenolic content and showed the most potent activity against DPPH radical. All extracts exhibited complete protection against the damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by increasing cell viability compared to only H2O2-treated groups, both in co-treatment and pre-treatment protocols. None of the extracts exhibited cytotoxic activity, and most of the extracts from the TS stimulated fibroblast proliferation and migration. All TS extracts exert anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the overproduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO). The most pronounced activity on hydroxyproline synthesis was observed in D extract. In summary, it was observed that TS extracts can promote the healing process by enhancing fibroblast migration, proliferation and collagen synthesis as well as suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. The obtained data in this work support the traditional use of TS as a valuable plant-based compound for the treatment of wounds.

Highlights

The acute and chronic wound problem is a growing global concern for the resource-poor and developed world
With this perspective in mind, the wound healing potency of TS was investigated with methods including the in vitro evaluation of plant-based medicines in relation to the effects on components involved in the wound healing process
Our results revealed that TS extracts can promote all applied concentrations

Summary

Introduction

The acute and chronic wound problem is a growing global concern for the resource-poor and developed world. The increasing costs for health care, as well as the threat of infections that are difficult to treat, make wound treatment an important clinical, social and economic problem [1]. Wound healing is a dynamic mechanism involving continuous cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions in a series of overlapping phases; hemostasis (blood coagulating cascade), inflammatory, proliferative and the remodeling [2,3]. This mechanism is regulated by several mediators and many cell types, including platelets, inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, cytokines, growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) [4]. The removal of factors (i.e., malnutrition, infection) that may adversely affect the normal wound healing period, as well as the use of substances capable of accelerating healing internally or externally is needed

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