Evaluation of the wound-healing activity and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts from Acorus calamus L

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2014 Jan;27(1):91-5.

Abstract

In folklore medicine, Acorus calamus has been used as a wound-healing agent for thousands of years; however, there have been few scientific reports on this activity so far. Now, we explored deeply the wound-healing effect of aqueous extracts from the fresh roots and rhizomes of A. calamus in vivo, as well as anti-inflammatory activity in vitro, so as to provide scientific evidence for the traditional application. The wound-healing effect was determined by the image analysis techniques and the histological analysis in the excisional wounding test, and the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the real-time RT-PCR techniques in the lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells test. Aqueous extracts, administered topically at the dose range from twice to thrice in a day, could enhance significantly the rate of skin wound-healing. Moreover, the extracts could effectively inhibit the mRNA expressions of inflammatory mediators induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells. These results showed significantly the wound-healing activity of aqueous extracts in the animal model of excise wound healing, and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acorus*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Plant Extracts