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Abstract

Pun Purai Ennai, a traditional Siddha formulation from Ethiopia used for wound treatment, lacks scientific validation. This study assessed its in vitro antioxidant and wound-healing activities. Sourced from the government Siddha College in Chennai, the study employed the DPPH radical scavenging and Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assays. The DPPH assay gauged antioxidant potential by measuring free radical neutralization. The CAM assay evaluated wound healing through angiogenesis. Results unveiled, In the DPPH assay, Pun Purai Ennai exhibited substantial, concentration-dependent DPPH radical inhibition, with 79.547% inhibition at 500 ?g/ml, akin to ascorbic acid's 81.3387%. The IC50 value of 60.94 ?g/ml for Pun Purai Ennai mirrored ascorbic acid's 61.01 ?g/ml, indicating comparable antioxidant efficacy. In the CAM assay, Pun Purai Ennai enhanced angiogenesis, evidenced by 21 blood vessels (versus the control's 17), akin to the standard (Regen D) at 23 vessels. These findings underscore the formulation's potential as a wound-healing agent, stimulating blood vessel formation akin to the standard. In conclusion, Pun Purai Ennai exhibited potent antioxidant activity akin to ascorbic acid and significant wound-healing potential, evident by proangiogenic effects. These insights propose its application as a natural remedy for oxidative stress and wound healing, necessitating further mechanistic exploration and clinical investigation.

Keywords

Wound healing; Pun purai ennai (PPE); In vitro models; Antioxidants; CAM assay.

Introduction

The global prevalence of acute and chronic wounds is a significant concern, spanning both resource-poor and developed regions. A retrospective analysis of Medicare beneficiaries in 2018 underscored the magnitude of this issue, revealing that 8.2 million individuals grappled with infectious or non-infectious wounds. The economic burden ranged dramatically from $28.1 billion to $96.8 billion, drawing attention to the critical clinical, societal, and economic dimensions of wound management. Within this context, the dynamics of wound healing unfold as a complex interplay of cell–cell, and cell–matrix interactions, encompassing distinct phases like hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Addressing factors hindering natural wound healing, including malnutrition and infections, while concurrently exploring agents that expedite the healing process becomes imperative. Amid the prominence of allopathic methodologies and synthetic compounds in wound repair, there's a growing curiosity about natural therapeutic avenues that align with the body's innate healing mechanisms. Plants offer a rich reservoir of diverse phytoconstituents, seamlessly assimilated by human and animal systems. The endorsement by the World Health Organization (WHO) further solidifies the value of plant-based therapies, acknowledged for their safety and efficacy [1]. Within this narrative, our focus turns to "Pun Purai Ennai," a polyherbal Siddha formulation, as we embark on a journey to explore its in vitro antioxidant and wound healing potentials. Employing the Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, our investigation delves into the formulation's ability to address the disruptive impact of wounds and potentially hasten the intricate course of natural healing. The CAM assay capitalizes on the distinctive attributes of the chick embryo's CAM, an extraembryonic membrane that serves as a conduit for essential nutrient and gas exchange, fortified by an intricate network of capillaries. This exceptional vascularization, coupled with the assay's practicality, renders CAM an invaluable tool for probing a variety of biological phenomena. Concurrently, the widely recognized DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay was employed to delve into the antioxidant activity of Pun Purai Ennai. Rooted in the principle of antioxidants acting as hydrogen donors, this assay gauges the neutralization of free radicals like DPPH, evident through a color shift from purple to yellow, quantified via UV spectrometry at 517 nm [2]. Harnessing the potential of the CAM assay and the DPPH assay, our study offers a comprehensive exploration of Pun Purai Ennai's multifaceted attributes. By unveiling its wound healing and antioxidant potential, we contribute to the expanding realm of natural wound care solutions. This endeavor serves to enrich our understanding of the formulation's bioactivities and its potential as a valuable resource in harnessing the body's inherent healing mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Procurement of formulation

The pun purai ennai formulation was procured from the government Siddha Medical College, Chennai.


Table No 1: Components Of Pun Purai Ennai

 

S.no

Common name and Tamil name

Botanical name

Amount

1

Indian tulip tree(povarasampattai)

Thespesia populnea

1kg

2

Sulphur(gandhagam)

Sulphur

50gm

3

Black cumin seeds(karunjeeragam)

Nigella sativa

50gm

4

Indian madder (manjitti)

Rubia cordifolia

50gm

5

Chebulic myrobalan (kadhukkai thol)

Terminalia chebula

50gm

6

Black cutch (kaaichukatti)

Acacia catechu

50gm

7

Aleppo oak (masikkai)

Quercus infectoria

50gm

8

Sal tree (ven kungiliyam)

Shorea robusta

50gm

9

Coconut oil (thengaai ennai)

Cocos nucifera

5litres


Antioxidant activity

DPPH radical scavenging activity [3,4]

Principle:

The DPPH assay is a widely used method in natural product antioxidant studies due to its simplicity and sensitivity. It is based on the theory that antioxidants act as hydrogen donors. The assay measures the ability of compounds to scavenge free radicals, such as DPPH. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) is a stable and commercially available organic nitrogen radical. When an antioxidant is present, DPPH accepts a hydrogen atom, leading to a color change from purple to yellow. The extent of color change is directly related to the antioxidant's effectiveness in neutralizing DPPH radicals. UV spectrometry is commonly employed to monitor DPPH's absorption at 517 nm, making the method simple and accurate.

       
            DPPH radical scavenging activity of pun purai ennai.png
       

Fig.1: DPPH radical scavenging activity of pun purai ennai [2]

Material Required

0.1 mM DPPH solution, Ascorbic acid 1 mg/ml (standard), Methanol

0.1 mM DPPH Solution: Dissolve 39 mg of DPPH in 100 ml of methanol and store the solution at -20°C until required.

Procedure

  • Prepare a 0.1 mM DPPH solution in methanol.
  • Take 300 ?l of the sample solution (Pun Purai Ennai in ethanol) at different concentrations (500, 250, 100, 50, and 10 ?g/ml).
  • Add 100 ?l of the 0.1 mM DPPH solution to each sample.
  • Vigorously shake the mixtures and allow them to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes
  • Measure the absorbance of the reaction mixtures at 517 nm using a UV-VISIBLE spectrophotometer. Use ascorbic acid as the reference.
  • A lower absorbance value in the reaction mixture indicates higher free radical scavenging activity.
  • Calculate the DPPH scavenging effect (% inhibition) using the formula:
  • DPPH scavenging effect (%) = [(absorbance of control - absorbance of reaction mixture) / absorbance of control] x 100.

Wound healing activity

Chick Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]

Introduction

The cam assay is a valuable research method used to investigate angiogenesis, tumor cell behavior, and wound healing activity. It offers several advantages, including the cam's highly vascularized nature, which promotes efficient grafting of cells, high reproducibility, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the closed system of the cam allows for an extended half-life of experimental molecules, enabling the study of potential anti-metastatic compounds available in limited quantities. The cam consists of a multilayer epithelium with ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm layers, containing essential extracellular matrix proteins that mimic the physiological environment for cancer cells.

Procedure:

  • Incubation of fertilized chicken eggs: Fertilized chicken eggs are purchased from a poultry trader and incubated at 37°c with regular movement to maintain humidity.
  • Preparing the eggs: After 3-4 days of incubation, the seven-day-old eggs are examined to identify the embryo head. A small hole is then drilled at the narrow end of the egg, and some albumin is aspirated to separate the yolk sac from the shell membrane.
  • CAM placement: The shell around the embryo air sac is carefully detached, and a filter paper loaded with the PPE sample (100 ?g/ml) is placed on the cam surface. The eggs are then incubated further.
  • Observation: After 3 days, the cam is removed from the eggs, and the number of blood vessels is observed. Microscopic examination is conducted to count the vessels that radially converge toward the center. Each sample dose is tested on at least twenty eggs.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Antioxidant activity

DPPH radical scavenging activity [14]

The result of the in vitro antioxidant activity of Pun Purai Ennai was illustrated in Table 2, Fig.2, and Fig.3.


Table No 2: DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity Of Pun Purai Ennai

 

S. No

Tested sample Concentration (?g/ml)

Od value at 517 nm (in triplicates)

% inhibition of the sample

1

Control

0.985

0.987

0.988

-

2

500 ?g/ml

0.199

0.205

0.201

79.547

3

250 ?g/ml

0.226

0.241

0.246

75.8959

4

100 ?g/ml

0.369

0.339

0.35

64.2326

5

50 ?g/ml

0.515

0.509

0.503

48.3773

6

10 ?g/ml

0.728

0.738

0.721

26.0649

7

Ascorbic acid

0.176

0.187

0.189

81.3387


       
            Fig.2.png
       

Fig.2: DPPH Radical scavenging activity of pun purai ennai

       
            Fig.3.png
       

Fig.3: DPPH Radical scavenging activity of pun purai ennai

The IC50 value of the tested sample (PPE) was determined to be 60.94 ?g/ml. The normal range for the IC50 value of ascorbic acid is 61.01 ?g/ml. In comparison, the tested sample, PPE, demonstrated a slightly lower IC50 value compared to the IC50 value of ascorbic acid (61.01 ?g/ml). This indicates that PPE possesses a similar potency to ascorbic acid in terms of inhibiting the target or producing the desired effect. The results of the DPPH radical scavenging activity of pun purai ennai display the tested sample concentrations of PPE in ?g/ml, the corresponding OD values at 517 nm, and the percentage of inhibition. The PPE samples demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of DPPH radicals, with higher concentrations exhibiting greater inhibition. The highest inhibition was observed at 500 ?g/ml with a value of 79.547%. Ascorbic acid, used as a reference compound, showed an inhibition of 81.3387%. The IC50 value, representing the concentration at which 50% inhibition is achieved, was determined to be 60.94 ?g/ml for PPE, slightly lower than the IC50 value of ascorbic acid (61.01 ?g/ml). These findings indicate that PPE exhibits significant DPPH radical scavenging activity, comparable to the reference compound ascorbic acid, emphasizing its potential as an antioxidant. The results suggest that PPE may possess beneficial properties related to its ability to scavenge free radicals, which are implicated in various pathological conditions.

Wound healing activity

Chick Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay [2,16,17]

The effect of the control, PPE, and standard (Regen D gel) on angiogenesis in the chick embryo CAM assay was visualized in Fig.4, Fig.5, and Fig.6. Additionally, the corresponding data is presented in Table 3.

       
            Fig.4-CAM control.png
       

Fig.4: CAM control

       
            CAM with standard.png
       

Fig.5: CAM with standard (regen D gel) (recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel)

       
            CAM with 100 ?g-ml of sample PPE.png
       

Fig.6: CAM with 100 ?g/ml of sample PPE


Table No 3: Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (Cam) Assay Of Pun Purai Ennai

S.no

Sample

No. of blood

Vessels

1

Control

17

2

Treatment (100 ?g/ml of PPE sample)

21

3

Standard (100 ?g/ml of regen D Gel)

23


These results suggest that PPE demonstrated a higher capacity to stimulate the formation of blood vessels, indicating its potential as a proangiogenic compound. This effect was comparable to that of the standard (recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel), surpassing the normal healing observed in the control group. The Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assay of Pun Purai Ennai revealed its ability to stimulate blood vessel formation, indicating its proangiogenic properties. The group treated with 100 ?g/ml of PPE showed an increase in the number of blood vessels from 17 (control group) to 21, demonstrating its proangiogenic effect. This effect was comparable to the group treated with the standard gel (regen D gel) containing recombinant human epidermal growth factor, which had 23 blood vessels. The mechanism behind PPE's proangiogenic activity involves the activation of signaling pathways that promote angiogenesis. Specific bioactive compounds present in PPE may interact with endothelial cells, stimulating their proliferation, migration, and differentiation. This, in turn, leads to the formation of new blood vessels. The proangiogenic properties of PPE are crucial for wound healing, as they facilitate improved oxygen and nutrient supply to the injured area, enhance waste removal, and promote the migration of cells involved in tissue repair.  EGF binds to its receptor on endothelial cells, initiating a signaling cascade that triggers the activation of various intracellular pathways, including the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK and PI3K- Akt pathways. These pathways are involved in promoting endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and survival, leading to the formation of new blood vessels. Similarly, PPE may contain bioactive compounds that interact with endothelial cells and activate similar signaling pathways. Activation of these pathways promotes endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, ultimately resulting in increased blood vessel formation. While the specific bioactive compounds in PPE responsible for its proangiogenic activity are yet to be identified, their ability to mimic the proangiogenic effects of EGF suggests that PPE may engage similar molecular mechanisms involved in endothelial cell growth and blood vessel development.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights Pun Purai Ennai (PPE), a polyherbal Siddha formulation, as a promising agent for wound healing and antioxidant therapy. In vitro analyses using the DPPH and CAM assays demonstrated PPE's strong free radical scavenging and proangiogenic activities, comparable to standard treatments. PPE's IC50 value for antioxidant activity closely matched that of ascorbic acid, indicating its potential to mitigate oxidative stress in wound healing. Additionally, PPE stimulates blood vessel formation, enhancing oxygen and nutrient delivery to wounds. These findings support the efficacy of plant-based therapies, aligning with natural healing mechanisms. Further research is needed to identify PPE's bioactive compounds and evaluate its clinical applications, reinforcing its potential as a safe, effective wound care solution in modern healthcare.

REFERENCES

  1. Sen CK. Human wounds and its burden: an updated compendium of estimates. Adv. Wound Care. 2019; 8(2): 39-48.
  2. Alekhya V, Deepan T, Dhanaraju M D. In vitro antioxidant activity and wound healing activity of wheatgrass by 1, 1-diphenyl, 2 picrylhydrazyl method. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2018; 11(12): 170.
  3. Ak T, Gülçin I. Antioxidant, and radical scavenging properties of curcumin. Chem Biol Interact. 2008; 174(1): 27-37.
  4. Kedare, Sagar B, and R P Singh. Genesis and development of DPPH method of antioxidant assay. J Food Sci Technol. 2011; 48(4): 412-22.
  5. Lengyel E. Ovarian cancer development and metastasis. Am. J. Pathol. 2010; 177: 1053–1064.
  6. Richardson M., Singh G. Observations on the use of the avian Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model in investigations into angiogenesis. Curr. Drug Targets Cardiovasc. Hematol. Disord. 2003; 3: 155–185.
  7. Deryugina E.I., Quigley J.P. Chick embryo Chorioallantoic membrane model systems to study and visualize human tumor cell metastasis. Histochem. Cell Biol. 2008; 130: 1119–1130.
  8. Tufan A.C., Satiroglu-Tufan N.L. The chick embryo Chorioallantoic membrane as a model system for the study of tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and development of antiangiogenic agents. Curr. Cancer Drug Targets. 2005; 5: 249–266.
  9. Ossowski L. In vivo invasion of modified Chorioallantoic membrane by tumor cells: The role of cell surface-bound urokinase. J. Cell Biol. 1988; 107: 2437–2445.
  10. Zhai Y., Kuick R., Nan B., Ota I., et al. Gene expression analysis of preinvasive and invasive cervical squamous cell carcinomas identifies HOXC10 as a key mediator of invasion. Cancer Res. 2007; 67: 10163–10172.
  11. Cimpean A.M., Ribatti D., Raica M. The chick embryo Chorioallantoic membrane as a model to study tumor metastasis. Angiogenesis. 2008; 11: 311–319.
  12. Valdes T.I., Kreutzer D., Moussy F. The chick Chorioallantoic membrane as a novel in vivo model for the testing of biomaterials. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 2002; 62: 273–282.
  13. Giannopoulos E., Katsoris P., Hatziapostolou M., et al. X-Rays modulate extracellular matrix in vivo. Int. J. Cancer. 2001; 94: 690–698.
  14. Benkhaled A, Boudjelal A, Napoli E, Baali F, et al. Phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and wound healing properties of Artemisia absinthium essential oil. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 2020; 10(11): 496.
  15. Nagaraju B, Ramanna H, Shiva Krishna N, et al. In-vitro studies on anti-diabetic and wound healing activity of Chloroxylon swietenia Linn (Rutaceae) leaf extract. World J. Pharma. Res. 2018; 7(3): 578-89.
  16. Wee P, Wang Z. Epidermal growth factor receptor cell proliferation signaling pathways. Cancers. 2017; 9(5): 52.

Reference

  1. Sen CK. Human wounds and its burden: an updated compendium of estimates. Adv. Wound Care. 2019; 8(2): 39-48.
  2. Alekhya V, Deepan T, Dhanaraju M D. In vitro antioxidant activity and wound healing activity of wheatgrass by 1, 1-diphenyl, 2 picrylhydrazyl method. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2018; 11(12): 170.
  3. Ak T, Gülçin I. Antioxidant, and radical scavenging properties of curcumin. Chem Biol Interact. 2008; 174(1): 27-37.
  4. Kedare, Sagar B, and R P Singh. Genesis and development of DPPH method of antioxidant assay. J Food Sci Technol. 2011; 48(4): 412-22.
  5. Lengyel E. Ovarian cancer development and metastasis. Am. J. Pathol. 2010; 177: 1053–1064.
  6. Richardson M., Singh G. Observations on the use of the avian Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model in investigations into angiogenesis. Curr. Drug Targets Cardiovasc. Hematol. Disord. 2003; 3: 155–185.
  7. Deryugina E.I., Quigley J.P. Chick embryo Chorioallantoic membrane model systems to study and visualize human tumor cell metastasis. Histochem. Cell Biol. 2008; 130: 1119–1130.
  8. Tufan A.C., Satiroglu-Tufan N.L. The chick embryo Chorioallantoic membrane as a model system for the study of tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and development of antiangiogenic agents. Curr. Cancer Drug Targets. 2005; 5: 249–266.
  9. Ossowski L. In vivo invasion of modified Chorioallantoic membrane by tumor cells: The role of cell surface-bound urokinase. J. Cell Biol. 1988; 107: 2437–2445.
  10. Zhai Y., Kuick R., Nan B., Ota I., et al. Gene expression analysis of preinvasive and invasive cervical squamous cell carcinomas identifies HOXC10 as a key mediator of invasion. Cancer Res. 2007; 67: 10163–10172.
  11. Cimpean A.M., Ribatti D., Raica M. The chick embryo Chorioallantoic membrane as a model to study tumor metastasis. Angiogenesis. 2008; 11: 311–319.
  12. Valdes T.I., Kreutzer D., Moussy F. The chick Chorioallantoic membrane as a novel in vivo model for the testing of biomaterials. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 2002; 62: 273–282.
  13. Giannopoulos E., Katsoris P., Hatziapostolou M., et al. X-Rays modulate extracellular matrix in vivo. Int. J. Cancer. 2001; 94: 690–698.
  14. Benkhaled A, Boudjelal A, Napoli E, Baali F, et al. Phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and wound healing properties of Artemisia absinthium essential oil. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 2020; 10(11): 496.
  15. Nagaraju B, Ramanna H, Shiva Krishna N, et al. In-vitro studies on anti-diabetic and wound healing activity of Chloroxylon swietenia Linn (Rutaceae) leaf extract. World J. Pharma. Res. 2018; 7(3): 578-89.
  16. Wee P, Wang Z. Epidermal growth factor receptor cell proliferation signaling pathways. Cancers. 2017; 9(5): 52.

Photo
Logeswari S.
Corresponding author

College of Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Photo
Indumathy R.
Co-author

College of Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Photo
Malina Barhana R.
Co-author

College of Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Logeswari S.*, Indumathy R., Malina Barhana R., Invitro Antioxidant and Wound Healing Activity of Pun Purai Ennai, A Polyherbal Siddha Formulation, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2025, Vol 3, Issue 1, 1779-1786. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14709778

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