College of Pharmacy, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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.
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.
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
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:
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.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.5: CAM with standard (regen D gel) (recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel)
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
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