Abstract
While M1 macrophages initiate wound healing by inducing the inflammation phase, M2 macrophages are crucial in the proliferation phase by producing growth factors that accelerate new tissue formation. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is known to accelerate wound closure; however, mechanisms underlying the wound healing properties of C. longa L. remain to be documented. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanisms by which C. longa L. accelerates wound healing. Here, an experimental study was conducted using 30 male Swiss Webster mice. Curcuma longa L. extract was applied on the wound bed tissue starting on day 3 after wound induction. The Arginase-1 (Arg-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (M1 and M2 markers) gene expressions from wound skin tissue were analyzed, while collagenesis during tissue repair was observed by histopathology analysis of excised skin on day 6 after wound induction. Upregulation of Arg-1 in the treated group was observed on day 6 after wound induction compared to the positive control (p = 0.0394) and the negative control groups (p = 0.0313). In addition, the Arg-1/iNOS ratio revealed a significant increase of M2 polarization in the C. longa L.-treated wound compared to negative controls (p < 0.0001), but not significant when compared with positive controls (p = 0.0535). Similarly, collagen density was significantly higher in the C. longa L.-treated wound than the negative control (p = 0.0418) and the positive control (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that administration of C. longa L. extract gel improved wound tissue repair on skin excision by inducing M2 polarization on wound tissue during healing.
Highlights
Acute and chronic wounds do cause pain and significantly impose an economic burden (Guest et al, 2017; Järbrink et al, 2017)
The Arg-1/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) ratio revealed a significant increase of M2 polarization in the C. longa L.-treated wound compared to negative controls (p < 0.0001), but not significant when compared with positive controls (p = 0.0535)
These results suggest that administration of C. longa L. extract gel improved wound tissue repair on skin excision by inducing M2 polarization on wound tissue during healing
Summary
Acute and chronic wounds do cause pain and significantly impose an economic burden (Guest et al, 2017; Järbrink et al, 2017). Tissue repair in wound healing consists of three consecutive phases including inflammatory, proliferation, and maturation phases. Macrophages play an important role in all the phases of tissue repair (Shedoeva et al, 2019). Inhibition of macrophage activity has been reported to be associated with prolonged wound healing time (Shedoeva et al, 2019). As described among diabetic patients, persistent M1 macrophages in wound tissues and inhibition of M2 macrophage polarization in wound tissues make it difficult for chronic wounds to heal (Shah et al, 2017). Prolonged wound healing results in prolonged treatment and eventually increases the treatment cost. In view of Berbudi et al / Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 11 (01); 2021: 095-100 this, a new breakthrough in wound care is required to produce effective, efficient, and inexpensive treatment options
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