Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds from Bacopa procumbens and Their Effects on Wound-Healing Process

Abstract

Wounds represent a medical problem that contributes importantly to patient morbidity and to healthcare costs in several pathologies. In Hidalgo, Mexico, the Bacopa procumbens plant has been traditionally used for wound-healing care for several generations; in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of bioactive compounds obtained from a B. procumbens aqueous fraction and to determine the key pathways involved in wound regeneration. Bioactive compounds were characterized by HPLC/QTOF-MS, and proliferation, migration, adhesion, and differentiation studies were conducted on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Polyphenolic compounds from Bacopa procumbens (PB) regulated proliferation and cell adhesion; enhanced migration, reducing the artificial scratch area; and modulated cell differentiation. PB compounds were included in a hydrogel for topical administration in a rat excision wound model. Histological, histochemical, and mechanical analyses showed that PB treatment accelerates wound closure in at least 48 h and reduces inflammation, increasing cell proliferation and deposition and organization of collagen at earlier times. These changes resulted in the formation of a scar with better tensile properties. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR molecular analyses demonstrated that treatment induces (i) overexpression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and (ii) the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and ERK1/2, suggesting the central role of some PB compounds to enhance wound healing, modulating TGF-β activation.

BFNB Enhances Hair Growth in C57BL/6 Mice through the Induction of EGF and FGF7 Factors and the PI3K-AKT-β-Catenin Pathway

“…The hair growth observed in our study may be strongly related to the findings of Martínez-Cuazitl et al [26] regarding the healing process. Their research highlighted the regulatory effect of the bioactive fraction from B. procumbens on cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration, as well as its ability to reduce the area of artificial wounds in 3T3 fibroblasts in vitro.…”

“…In our previous investigations, we meticulously identified the principal secondary metabolites present within the bioactive fraction derived from B. procumbens [26]. Naringenin, equol, paeoniflorin, and apigenin were the most abundant components, constituting 29.2%, 19.3%, 8.2%, and 5.6% of the fraction, respectively.…”

“…Histological sections of 8 µm thickness from the dorsal regions of mice subjected to the 15-day treatments were used for immunohistochemical assays. The samples were deparaffinized in xylene, followed by hydration in a series of descending concentrations of ethanol (100%, 95%, 90%, 80%, and 70%), according to the protocol used by Martínez-Cuazitl et al [26], with slight modifications and utilizing the solutions from the Mouse/Rabbit PolyDetector DAB HRP Brown kit from Bio SB (Santa Barbara, CA, USA). The tissues were washed with PBS, and epitope retrieval was performed utilizing an Immune Retriever Citrate solution in a pressure cooker (Oster, FlavorMaster TM , Owosso, MI, USA) for 8 min.…”

“…Recently, we found that an extract of Bacopa procumbens (B. procumbens) promotes skin regeneration and accelerates the wound-healing process [26].…”

3D-Printed Alginate/Pectin-Based Patches Loaded with Olive Leaf Extracts for Wound Healing Applications: Development, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Properties

“…The wound healing process is aided by the beneficial properties of polyphenols found in certain plant species including Bacopa procumbens , which has traditionally been used in wound healing due to the presence of phenolic compounds that are able to regulate cell proliferation, adhesion and differentiation, and improve cell migration [ 10 ]. In 2022, indeed, Martínez-Cuazitl et al described the effects of polyphenols from Bacopa procumbens on the wound healing process and incorporated these active molecules into a hydrogel formulation, which was assessed in a rat excision wound model showing that the treatment accelerated wound closure and reduced inflammation, enhancing cell proliferation and collagen organization [ 11 ].…”