Enhanced Skin Regeneration by Herbal Extract-Coated Poly-L-Lactic Acid Nanofibrous Scaffold.

The wound healing process is directly related to the type of treatment. Existing methods of treatment are not responsive enough for severe wounds. The aim of this study was the potential capacity investigation of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibrous scaffolds coated by aloe vera gel for wound dressing applications. In this study, electrospinning method was used for preparing PLLA nanofibers, and after characterization by SEM and MTT, its influence on the wound healing process was investigated with and without aloe vera gel as a wound dressing in full-thickness skin defect in mice. Band-Aids were used as a positive control and vaseline gauze as a negative control. SEM and MTT assays confirmed the nanometer size and biocompatibility of fabricated nanofibers. Macroscopic and histopathological characteristics were evaluated at the end of days 7, 12, and 17 and their results showed that the gel-coated scaffold accelerated the wound-healing process compared with other groups. At the end of the experiment, it was shown that during the whole time of study, gel-coated scaffold had the highest overall repair score. Therefore, gel-coated PLLA scaffold would be an ideal construct for wound healing and skin regenerative medicine application.

Experimental and Pathalogical study of Pistacia atlantica, butyrate, Lactobacillus casei and their combination on rat ulcerative colitis model.

This study evaluated the effects of Pistacia atlantica (P. atlantica), butyrate, Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) and especially their combination therapy on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis model. Rats were divided into seven groups. Four groups received oral P. atlantica, butyrate, L. casei and the combination of three agents for 10 consecutive days. The remaining groups were negative and positive controls and a sham group. Macroscopic and histopathological examinations were carried out along with determination of the specific biomarker of colonic oxidative stress, the myeloperoxidase (MPO). Compared with controls, the combination therapy exhibited a significant alleviation of colitis in terms of pathological scores and reduction of MPO activity (55%, p=0.0009). Meanwhile, the macroscopic appearance such as stool consistency, tissue and histopathological scores (edema, necrosis and neutrophil infiltration) were improved. Although single therapy by each P. atlantica, butyrate, and L. casei was partially beneficial in reduction of colon oxidative stress markers, the combination therapy was much more effective. In conclusion, the combination therapy was able to reduce the severity of colitis that is clear from biochemical markers. Future studies have to focus on clinical effects of this combination in management of human ulcerative colitis. Further molecular and signaling pathway studies will help to understand the mechanisms involved in the treatment of colitis and inflammatory diseases.