Effects of Alchemilla vulgaris and glycerine on epithelial and myofibroblast cell growth and cutaneous lesion healing in rats.

Wound-healing properties have been suggested for Alchemilla vulgaris. Since epithelial and myofibroblast cell growth is required for wound healing, the effects of A. vulgaris on cell growth were investigated in Chang liver and Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) epithelial cell lines and rat aortic myofibroblast cultures. Putative healing properties were investigated on dorsal circular 8 mm excisional skin lesions in adult male rats. Cell numbers increased with 0.1-1% A. vulgaris, attaining 21.3 +/- 2.1%, 15.5 +/- 2.25% and 10.6 +/- 0.6% in MDBK, myofibroblast and Chang liver cells, respectively (p < 0.005). No morphological changes or cytotoxicity were noted. In rats A. vulgaris (3%)-treated lesions were significantly decreased in diameter by 10.0 +/- 0.7% (p < 0.005) after 2 days of treatment. On day 3 of treatment, the lesion diameter was significantly reduced by 15.9 +/- 1.1% in glycerine vehicle-treated rats compared with distilled water (p < 0.005), whereas that in A. vulgaris-treated rats was reduced further by 23.2 +/- 1.4% (p < 0.005). Glycerine alone significantly reduced the lesion diameter between days 3 and 5 but complete healing occurred a day earlier in A. vulgaris-treated rats. The results demonstrate wound-healing properties of A. vulgaris associated with promitotic activity in epithelial cells and myofibroblasts.