Wound healing modulation by a biomembrane of laticifers proteins from Calotropis procera (AIT.) R. BR.

The latex of the medicinal plant Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) has been widely used in folk medicine on dermatological disorders. Laticifer proteins (LP) obtained from natural latex was used to prepare a biomembrane associated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in order to investigate their effects at wound healing. Experimental protocols were registered on the Institutional Ethics Committee under number 24/09. Swiss male mice (10 weeks) were subjected to surgery in the dorsal region to induce excisional wound (1cm²) followed by implantation of Biomembranes containing 1% PVA or 0.2% LP associated with PVA. On 2nd, 7th and 14th days after surgery each wound were measured by pachometer, colleted for microscopic analysis and used for determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitrite and TNF-α levels. On the 2nd day was observed that the biomembrane containing LP stimulated mast cell degranulation, infiltrate of polymorfonuclear cells, as indicated by MPO, as well as increased nitrite and TNF-α levels. On the 7nd day, LP promoted reduction in wound area and a higher infiltrate of mononuclear cells. On the 14th day was observed that LP increased the population of fibroblasts and collagenesis. Integrated analysis of all results suggest that LP act significantly in the inflammatory phase of healing, which seems to directly influence the subsequent phases of the healing process.