Effect of medicinal plants and traditional medicine in wound healing Presented: A.Negaresh

Process of wound healing Traditional Medicine Process of wound healing Medicinal plants Result of Research

What is traditional medicine? WHO defines traditional medicine as including diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal, and/or mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises which can be used to maintain well-being, as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness.

Traditional and Complementary/ Alternative Medicine Categories of TM/CAM Main Popular System of TM/CAM Traditional Chinese Medicine Indian Ayurveda Medicine Arabic Unani Medicine Chiropractic

Wound Healing Inflammation occurs when the damaged endothelial cells release cytokines that increase expression of integrands in circulating lymphocytes. Histamine, serotonin, and kinins cause vessel contraction (thromboxane), decrease in blood loss, and act as chemotactic factors for neutrophils, the most abundant cells in the initial 24 hour period. Proliferative phase occurs next, after the neutrophils have removed cellular debris and release further cytokines acting as attracting agents for macrophages. Fibroblasts now migrate into the wound, and secrete collagen type. Angiogenesis occurs by 48 hours. The secretion of collagen, macrophage remodeling and secretion, and angiogenesis continues for up to 3 weeks. The greatest increase in wound strength occurs during this phase.

Maturation phase is the final phase and starts from the 3rd week and continues for up to 9-12 months. This is where collagen III is converted to collagen I, and the tensile strength continues to increase up to 80% of normal tissue.

Medicinal plants in wound healing Centella asiatica Aloe vera Ginkgo Biloba Aristolochia bracteolate

Centella asiatica Increased enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants Fibroblast proliferation Collagen synthesis Angiogenesis

Aloe vera Epithelisation Collagenisation Aloe, a native to Africa, is also known as “lily of the desert” or the plant of immortality. Its name was derived from the alloeh meaning “bitter” because of the bitter liquid found in its leaves. Egyptians recorded use of this herbal plant in treating burns, infections and parasites as early as 1500 B.C.. Its clear gel has a dramatic ability to heal wounds, ulcers and burns by forming a protective coating on the affected areas and speeding up the healing process. The fresh plant contains 96% of water and rest is essential oil, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glycoproteins. Various constituents of Aloe vera have been shown to have anti- inflammatory activity. They also stimulate wound healing. Some clinical reports suggest topical Aloe vera gel is useful in healing minor burns and that such application of the gel is harmless as hypersensitive reactions to it are rare. However, in some severe burns, aloe gel may actually impede healing

Ginkgo Biloba Epithelization Increase in blood fluidity Increase antioxidant

Aristolochia bracteolate Epithelization Increase in skin breaking strength Increased collagen level

Animal studies