Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_111
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565735

The in vivo and in vitro diabetic wound healing effects of two wild plants growing in Kazakhstan and its mechanisms of action

TS Kustova 1, 2, TA Karpenyuk 1, NA Ibragimova 2, CL Cantrell 3, SA Ross 4
  • 1al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • 2Scientific Center of Anti-infectious Drugs, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • 3Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS, University, United States
  • 4School of Pharmacy, NCNPR, The University of Mississippi, University, United States

Diabetic complications, such as foot ulcer is a global health problem. Therefore, much attention has been paid to find biological active substances from plants that help to solve this problem. In our previous studies were shown antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of two plants growing in Kazakhstan (Vexibia alopecuroides (L.) Jakovl. and Salvia deserta Shang). In this study they were examined for the ulcer healing effect in vivo, and its potential mechanisms of action in vitro.

A streptozotocin induced diabetic foot ulcer rat model was used for studying the wound healing effect. The proliferative effects of crude extracts on MDCK cells were evaluated by the MTT assay. The migration of MDCK cells was examined using the scratch wound healing assay.

Our in vivo results demonstrated a significant reduction of wound area at day 9 in both treated groups as compared to control group (p < 0.05). But only methylene chloride extract obtained from Vexibia alopecuroides could significantly stimulate proliferation in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.05). Besides, this extract could significantly increase the cell migration (p < 0.01). However, due to the complexity of a wound healing process in vivo, the methylene chloride extract obtained from Salvia deserta may still influence the healing through other pathways.

Our study presents for the first time scientific evidence towards the efficacy of the two plants growing in Kazakhstan in enhancing diabetic wound healing.