Wound-healing potential of methanolic extract of Rhaphidophora korthalsii leaves possibly mediated by collagen and fibronectin expression in L929 cell line

Abstract

Background: Rhaphidophora korthalsii is a climber shrub well known for its therapeutic properties in traditional medicine. The immunomodulatory properties of the plant extract have been investigated on mice splenocytes, human peripheral blood, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell natural killer cells. The plant extract has also shown antioxidant effect and elevated macrophage production and has also been known to have anticancer properties. Yet, its wound-healing ability is not explored. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this research study is to evaluate the wound-healing potential of the plant extract on mouse fibroblast cell line L929 through scratch assay and the potential effect of the plant extract on the expression of two key wound-healing factors, fibronectin and collagen 1. Materials and Methods: L929 was exposed to various concentrations of R. korthalsii methanol extract to check the cytotoxic effect of the extract. In vitro scratch assay was performed on the treated cells to assess the wound-healing ability of the extract. Further, the effect of the extract on the expression of wound-healing factors, fibronectin and collagen 1, was studied through a flow cytometric analysis. Results: R. korthalsii leaf extract showed no toxicity on the L929 fibroblast cells. The treated cells showed ~93% wound closure after 48 h of incubation. The treatment of cells with the leaf extract, also, upregulated the expression of the wound-healing factors, fibronectin and collagen 1, i.e., 76.30% and 96.09% of the cells expressed them, respectively. Conclusion: R. korthalsii is a non-toxic plant with wound-healing properties. The phytochemicals in this plant may be responsible for its abilities. Thus, it can serve as an alternative therapy against synthetic drugs for wound healing.