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DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282934
An ethnopharmacological study on Verbascum species: From conventional wound healing use to scientific verification
The leaves, flowers, and whole aerial parts of Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) species are used to treat eczema and other types of inflammatory skin conditions for desiccating wounds in traditional Turkish medicine.The methanolic extracts prepared with thirteen Verbascum species growing in Turkey, including V. chionophyllum Hub.-Mor., V. cilicicum Boiss., V. dudleyanum (Hub.-Mor.) Hub.-Mor., V. lasianthum Boiss., V. latisepalum Hub.-Mor., V. mucronatum Lam., V. olympicum Boiss., V. pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor., V. pycnostachyum Boiss. & Heldr., V. salviifolium Boiss., V. splendidum Boiss., V. stachydifolium Boiss. & Heldr and V. uschackense (Murb.) Hub.-Mor. were assessed for their in vivo wound healing activity. In vivo wound healing activity of the plants were evaluated with linear incision and circular excision experimental models subsequently histopathological analysis. The healing potential was comparatively assessed with a reference ointment Madecassol®, which contains 1% extract of Centella asiatica. The methanolic extracts of V. olympicum (36.6%, 75.6%), V. stachydifolium (40.1%, 79.1%) and V. uschackense (37.4%, 70.5%) demonstrated the highest activities on the both wound models. Moreover, the methanolic extracts of V. latisepalum (32.7%, 40.3%), V. mucronatum (21.2%, 26.4%), and V. pterocalycinum var. mutense (26.7%, 56.6%) were found generally highly effective. On the other hand, the rest of the species did not show any remarkable wound healing effect. Results of the present study support the continued and expanded utilization of these plant species employed in Turkish folk medicine. The experimental study revealed that Verbascum species display remarkable wound healing activity.