Evaluation of the In Vitro Wound-Healing Activity of Calabrian Honeys

Abstract

The healing of skin wounds and particularly chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, is still a clinical emergency. Despite the many therapeutic tools that are available so far, none seems to be really effective and safe. In this context, we highlighted the renewed wound healing activity of honey, a viscous aromatic and sweet food, by way of in vitro wound-healing assays, using the HaCaT cell line. Specifically, we investigated five monofloral or multifloral honeys from different Calabrian provinces using them as such or extracted (by Amberlite® or n-hexane and ethyl acetate). The chemical composition of honeys was ascertained by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Amongst the five tested honeys, BL1 and BL5 honeys showed the most promising healing properties. Pinocembrin, which was revealed in BL1 (multifloral) and BL5 (orange) honey samples, is a flavanol that is already known to possess interesting biological activities, including healing. This study aims to investigate how a traditional food such as honey, which is appreciated for its nutritional value and used in folk medicine, can be enhanced as an effective modern remedial to promote a multifaceted and safe healing activity for all skin wounds.

Sangiovese cv Pomace Seeds Extract-Fortified Kefir Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity in an In Vitro Model of Intestinal Epithelium Using Caco-2 Cells

“…The maintenance of intestinal permeability as a feature for overcoming the development of severe diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies, is a growing topic in the field of nutrition science. Various substances have been used over the years, [3][4][5] including the conventional steroid drugs, able to improve gut health through the reduction of inflammatory mediators [6]. Polyphenols, which are the most important secondary metabolites of plants, demonstrated to modulate the expression and/or production of numerous proteins, but also to regulate the intestinal ecosystem [7].…”

Novel Therapeutic Approach for the Management of Mood Disorders: In Vivo and In Vitro Effect of a Combination of L-Theanine, Melissa officinalis L. and Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H. Wilson

“…We also found that the dose-effect relationship of TMM was biphasic, showing a bell-shaped effect. Natural products have been frequently shown to have a biphasic pharmacological effect, both in vitro and in vivo [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. In particular, we previously reported that a standardized Hypericum perforatum L. extract, which is a well-known anti-depressant herbal drug, can exert an anti-nociceptive effect in mice models of neuropathic pain at lower doses compared to the one used for treating depression, with a mechanism of action involving the opioid system.…”

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Flavanones from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) Leaf Phytocomplexes: Identification of Licoflavanone as a Modulator of NF-kB/MAPK Pathway

“…Pinocembrin resulted as the principal component of the total extract, recoverable from methanol fraction after column chromatography. Literature data report that pinocembrin is a flavonoid endowed with antioxidant [21] and anti-inflammatory properties, exerted by downregulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). These activities are also achieved by significantly suppressing the phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38MAPK, as well as by reducing the phosphorylation of IkBα, directly involved in nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) regulation, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies [22].…”