Zahra Ghanbarinasab1, Mahnaz Hosseini-Bensenjan1, Elaheh Ziaei Ziabari2, Shiva Aminnia1, Roham Borazjani3, Mohammad Rastegarian Jahromi1, Qasem Asgari4, Bahador Sarkari4,5, Soheil Ashkani-Esfahani1. 1. Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2. The Rothman Institute, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 3. Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 4. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 5. Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bambusa vulgaris (Tabashir) has been shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects due to the presence of ascorbic acid, vitamin B2, flavonoid, and phenolic compounds which can be beneficial in the process of wound healing. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of topical Tabashir extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania major in BALB/c mice. METHODS: Twenty-eight female BALB/c mice (4 weeks old, 18 ± 4 grams) were injected subcutaneously in tail-base with L. major amastigotes. Treatment started when the CL lesions were appeared and continued for 21 days. Mice were then divided into four groups: E1, treated daily with 5% of Tabashir extract gel; E2, treated daily with 10% Tabashir gel; C1, irrigated daily only with normal saline; and C2, received vehicle gel daily. The wounds' sizes were measured every 3 days, using vernier caliper. The volume densities of vessels, collagens, and hair follicles, vessels' length density, and mean diameter were soteriologically determined. RESULTS: Tabashir enhanced wound closure rate through increasing the number of fibroblasts, collagen bundles, and vessels, according to histomorphometric evaluation while it did not affect the parasitic load. Findings of the in vitro study revealed that the extract has substantial mortality for the Leishmania promastigotes. CONCLUSION: Topical Tabashir showed promising effects on the healing process of skin wounds caused by CL in this experimental study. Further studies are suggested to find out the molecules which are involved in the healing process.
BACKGROUND: Bambusa vulgaris (Tabashir) has been shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects due to the presence of ascorbic acid, vitamin B2, flavonoid, and phenolic compounds which can be beneficial in the process of wound healing. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of topical Tabashir extract on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania major in BALB/c mice. METHODS: Twenty-eight female BALB/c mice (4 weeks old, 18 ± 4 grams) were injected subcutaneously in tail-base with L. major amastigotes. Treatment started when the CL lesions were appeared and continued for 21 days. Mice were then divided into four groups: E1, treated daily with 5% of Tabashir extract gel; E2, treated daily with 10% Tabashir gel; C1, irrigated daily only with normal saline; and C2, received vehicle gel daily. The wounds' sizes were measured every 3 days, using vernier caliper. The volume densities of vessels, collagens, and hair follicles, vessels' length density, and mean diameter were soteriologically determined. RESULTS: Tabashir enhanced wound closure rate through increasing the number of fibroblasts, collagen bundles, and vessels, according to histomorphometric evaluation while it did not affect the parasitic load. Findings of the in vitro study revealed that the extract has substantial mortality for the Leishmania promastigotes. CONCLUSION: Topical Tabashir showed promising effects on the healing process of skin wounds caused by CL in this experimental study. Further studies are suggested to find out the molecules which are involved in the healing process.
Authors: Miriam A Lynn; Jason Kindrachuk; Alexandra K Marr; Håvard Jenssen; Nelly Panté; Melissa R Elliott; Scott Napper; Robert E Hancock; W Robert McMaster Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2011-05-31