Pro-wound healing activity of Phlomis viscosa leaves

Abstract

We examined pro-wound healing properties of several plant extracts from the Judea region (Israel) in vivo and in vitro models. Judea is a phytogeographic zone with stressful conditions influencing in a beneficial manner the medicinal properties of the local plants [1]. The best wound healing properties belonged to the ethanol extract from Phlomis viscosa leaves. Non-toxic concentrations of the extract were determined by the Neutral Red assay [1]. After the determination of the non-lethal concentrations of plant extracts, we screened them for wound-healing modifying activity using the scratch assay: a standard “wound gap” of equal width was created by a silicone insert in a monolayer of human dermal fibroblasts. During the assay the closing of this gap by migrating and growing cells was observed (measurements of the cell free surface at given time points). Addition of the extract led to a significant acceleration of wound-healing and almost complete closure of the cell-free area after 24hours – incubation comparing with control (p < 0.05). We purified the active pro-wound healing compounds from this plant as described previously [2]. By using the Micro HPLC-ESI/MS and Orbitrap-based mass spectrometry, we confirmed the presence of diosmin in the extract.