Wound healing activity of Alocasia odora (Roxb.) Koch

Introduction: During the twenty years of the Vietnam war, the stem of Alocasia odora has been used in Vietnam for the treatment of wounds. However, there is little literature about this activity of the plant or its chemical composition. The present study investigates some possible modes of action of the plant in wound healing process and attempts to identify the constituents responsible.

Methods: Skin fibroblast proliferation assay-guided fractionation and HPLC isolation were used to study bioactivity in extracts of the stem and to locate the active moieties. In addition, an assay measuring protection against H₂O₂-induced damage to skin fibroblasts (142-BR) [1] and the DPPH radical scavenging assay were used to supplement the results of the proliferation assay [2].

Results: A total of 10 compounds (1 triterpenoid glycoside, 2 flavonoid C-glycosides, 5 lignan glycosides, 1 lignan and 1 alkaloid) were isolated from the active fractions and tested for bioactivities. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by the joint application of spectroscopic methods. The lignans, the triterpenoid and the alkaloid showed a slight stimulation of cell proliferation. No compound was shown to possess a protective effect against H₂O₂-induced damage on fibroblasts. Only lignans were shown to have DPPH radical scavenging activity.

Conclusions: Extracts and some isolated compounds from Alocasia odora stems were shown to possess modest activity in the bioassays. It is possible that proliferation of skin fibroblasts and antioxidant activities partly contribute to wound healing activity of Alocasia odora.

Acknowledgements: Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, Prof. P K Man, Dr. P V Hien

References: 1. Tran, V.H. et al. (1997), Wound Rep. Reg. 5: 159–167. 2. Kyong Soon, K. et al. (2003), J. Ethnopharmacol. 85: 69–73.