The effects of Labisia Pumila (var.pumila and var.alata ) on wound healing process through in animal models

Abstract

Labisia pumila (LP) locally known as Kacip Fatimah is a herbal medicine that has been used traditionally by both men and women for various purposes. Previous studies reported that LP exhibits many biological properties including phytoestrogenic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It may have the potential for wound healing effects because of its diversified biological properties. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of LP on the wound healing process in both male and female rat models. Firstly, in the ovariectomized female rat model, 99 female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into nine groups including sham operated (SH), ovariectomized (OVX) control (OC), OVX with vehicle dressing (OV), OVX with flavine dressing (OF), OVX with estrogen dressing (OE), OVX treated with LP var pumila (LPvp) leaf extract (PL), OVX treated with LPvp root extract (PR), OVX treated with LP var alata (LPva) leaf extract (AL) and OVX treated with LPva root extract (AR). Secondly, in the normal male rat model, 126 male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided randomly into 7 groups: sham-operated (SH), vehicle dressing (VD), flavine dressing (FD), treated with LPvp leaf extract (PL), treated with LPvp root extract (PR), treated with LPva leaf extract (AL) and treated with LPva root extract (AR). Dressing was changed once a day starting from the day of wound induction until wound completely healed. The percentage of wound contraction was measured on day 0, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. In ovariectomized female rat model, one rat from each group on day 2, 5 and 8 and in the normal male rat model, six rats from each group on day 2 and 8 were sacrificed for the histological and biochemical assessments. The parameters studied were the percentage of wound contraction, histomorphology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), collagen content by Masson-Goldner trichrome (MGT) and the intensity of fibronectin, fibroblast, collagen-1 and collagen-3 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. In the male rat model, levels of enzymatic antioxidants and malondialdehyde representing lipid peroxidation were also measured in wound tissue homogenates. Wounds treated with extracts showed considerable healing and significantly healed faster compared to all control groups. In the ovariectomized female rat model, rats treated with PL, PR (p < 0.001) AL and AR (p < 0.05) demonstrated earlier wound healing than all other groups (SH, OC, OV, OF and OE). Male rat model observed similar effects as female rat model. Histological analysis among LP treated groups revealed better re-epithelialization, enhanced fibronectin content and fibroblast cells, as well as higher fiber transformation from collagen-3 to collagen-1, accompanied with an abatement of inflammatory cells in the granulation tissues. Moreover, LP administration caused a significant increase in enzymatic antioxidant activities and a decline in lipid peroxidation. LP enhances wound healing effect in both rat model due to its ethnopharmacological properties.