From ethnopharmacological field study to phytochemistry and preclinical research: The example of ghanaian medicinal plants for improved wound healing

Treatment of wounds is still an important problem, especially chronic wounds and ulcers. This chapter discusses a strategy that has taken the authors from initial ethnopharmacological fieldwork to phytochemical and pharmacological research. Validated and structured ethnopharmacological field study in a defined area in Ghana revealed plant species traditionally used for wound healing. In vitro screening of extracts of the most prominent candidates on primary human fibroblasts and human keratinocytes identified a high degree of concordance with the traditional use. Detailed investigations were performed on leaves from Phyllanthus muellerianus and Combretum mucronatum. While the P. muellerianus extract was characterized by the presence of ellagitannins geraniin, corilagin and furosin, the lead compounds of C. mucronatum were shown to be isovitexin, epicatechin and procyanidins. Extracts from P. muellerianus strongly enhanced the proliferation of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, but had only minor influence on cellular differentiation (cytokeratin 1/10, involucrin and collagen). The respective functionality was related to the ellagitannins geraniin and furosin. In contrast, extracts from C. mucronatum did not influence cellular proliferation of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes but were strong inductors of keratinocytes differentiation. This chapter summarizes and reviews original research published recently (Agyare et al., 2009, 2011) and also includes unpublished data. The chapter discuss the published data in a wider context.