In vitro evaluation of the therapeutic potential of Anatolian kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) as an alternative wound healing agent

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the wound healing activity of the extracts from Quercus coccifera L. Q. coccifera L. is used in the treatment of burns and wounds in traditional medicine. Although the wound healing activities of various Quercus species have been demonstrated previously, no scientific report has been published on the wound healing potential of Q. coccifera L. The purpose of the present study was to contribute to elucidate the mechanism of the wound healing effect of Q. coccifera L. and to contribute the development of an effective therapeutic agent from this plant. The effects of aqueous (AE) and methanolic (ME) extracts from the stem parts of Q. coccifera L. on different phases of wound healing process were investigated on 3T3-Swiss albino mouse fibroblasts and murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cell line. Fibroblast proliferation was significantly promoted by AE and ME up to 136.8% and 163.38% at 200 μg/mL concentrations, respectively. Also, our results demonstrated that the rate of wound closure was stimulated by AE (18.6%–52.1%) and ME (23.9%–76.41%). AE and ME showed the highest activities on hydroxyproline synthesis (9.43 and 15.6-fold compared with control) at 200 μg/mL concentration. Both extracts potently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in RAW 264.7 macrophages, at all tested concentrations. Phenolic content of ME (165.88 ± 2.32 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) was higher than AE (67.58 ± 0.91 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), as well as the 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay revealed that ME has more potent antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 58.7 ± 2.42 μg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged between 0.25 and 250 μg/mL, against all tested strains. Extracts from Q. coccifera L. have antioxidant and antibacterial potential and accelerated the wound healing process evidenced by enhanced fibroblast proliferation, wound closure rate, collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation. Our results indicated that Q.coccifera L. has immense scope as an effective source to develop a therapeutic agent against skin wounds. The results of this study also have provided scientific basis for the traditional use of Q.coccifera L. as a wound healing agent.