TY - JOUR
T1 - An ethnopharmacological survey and in vitro confirmation of ethnopharmacological use of medicinal plants used for wound healing in Bosomtwi-Atwima-Kwanwoma area, Ghana
AU - Agyare, Christian
AU - Asase, Alex
AU - Lechtenberg, Matthias
AU - Niehues, Michael
AU - Deters, Alexandra
AU - Hensel, Andreas
PY - 2009/9/25
Y1 - 2009/9/25
N2 - Aims of the study: Wounds represent a major health burden and drain on healthcare resources in the world including Ghana and Africa. The majority of the people of Ghana and Africa still patronize traditional medicine for their health needs including various forms of wounds. The aim of this study is the identification of medicinal plants, type of wounds, dosage forms and collection methods used traditionally in treating wounds in the Bosomtwi-Atwima-Kwanwoma district, Ghana. In vitro screening of selected extracts from these plants on cell physiology of human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes was to be performed. Materials and methods: Validated questionnaires were administered to 78 traditional healers in 54 communities of the district. Interviews and structured conversations were used to administer the questionnaires. Selected herbal material dominantly used by the healers was collected, identified and aqueous and ethanolic extracts were investigated in vitro on influence on cell physiology of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts (MTT-, BrdU-, LDH-assay). Antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts were determined by free radical scavenging activity. Antiadhesive activity against Helicobacter pylori on human stomach cells was investigated for extracts reported to be used for stomach ulcer treatment. Results: The ethnopharmacological survey revealed 104 plants species belonging to 47 families. The detailed use of these plants is documented. Aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus muellerianus, Pycnanthus angolensis and Combretum smeathmanni influenced the mitochondrial activity and proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes significantly. Ethanolic extracts of selected plants exhibited strong antioxidant activities comparable to α-tocopherol. For Spathodea campanulata, Hoslundia opposita and Pycnanthus angolensis, which were reported by the healers to be used also for wound healing in case of stomach ulcers, strong antiadhesive activity against Helicobacter pylori was demonstrated, while the extracts did not exhibit any direct cytotoxicity against the bacterium. Conclusions: Traditional use of many wound-healing plants from Ghana can be well rationalized by the in vitro investigation of aqueous extracts. E.g. extracts of Phyllanthus muellerianus, Pycnanthus angolensis and Combretum smeathmanni exhibited significant influence on the cell viability and proliferation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
AB - Aims of the study: Wounds represent a major health burden and drain on healthcare resources in the world including Ghana and Africa. The majority of the people of Ghana and Africa still patronize traditional medicine for their health needs including various forms of wounds. The aim of this study is the identification of medicinal plants, type of wounds, dosage forms and collection methods used traditionally in treating wounds in the Bosomtwi-Atwima-Kwanwoma district, Ghana. In vitro screening of selected extracts from these plants on cell physiology of human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes was to be performed. Materials and methods: Validated questionnaires were administered to 78 traditional healers in 54 communities of the district. Interviews and structured conversations were used to administer the questionnaires. Selected herbal material dominantly used by the healers was collected, identified and aqueous and ethanolic extracts were investigated in vitro on influence on cell physiology of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts (MTT-, BrdU-, LDH-assay). Antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts were determined by free radical scavenging activity. Antiadhesive activity against Helicobacter pylori on human stomach cells was investigated for extracts reported to be used for stomach ulcer treatment. Results: The ethnopharmacological survey revealed 104 plants species belonging to 47 families. The detailed use of these plants is documented. Aqueous extracts of Phyllanthus muellerianus, Pycnanthus angolensis and Combretum smeathmanni influenced the mitochondrial activity and proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes significantly. Ethanolic extracts of selected plants exhibited strong antioxidant activities comparable to α-tocopherol. For Spathodea campanulata, Hoslundia opposita and Pycnanthus angolensis, which were reported by the healers to be used also for wound healing in case of stomach ulcers, strong antiadhesive activity against Helicobacter pylori was demonstrated, while the extracts did not exhibit any direct cytotoxicity against the bacterium. Conclusions: Traditional use of many wound-healing plants from Ghana can be well rationalized by the in vitro investigation of aqueous extracts. E.g. extracts of Phyllanthus muellerianus, Pycnanthus angolensis and Combretum smeathmanni exhibited significant influence on the cell viability and proliferation of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
KW - Bacterial adhesion
KW - Combretum smeathmanii
KW - Fibroblasts
KW - Ghana
KW - Helicobacter pylori
KW - Keratinocytes
KW - Phyllanthus muellerianus
KW - Pycnanthus angolensis
KW - Wound-healing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69949091124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jep.2009.07.024
DO - 10.1016/j.jep.2009.07.024
M3 - Article
C2 - 19635544
AN - SCOPUS:69949091124
SN - 0378-8741
VL - 125
SP - 393
EP - 403
JO - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
JF - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
IS - 3
ER -