Topical gel containing phenolic-rich extract from Ipomoea pes-capre leaf (Convolvulaceae) has anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and antiophidic properties

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2022-05, Vol.149, p.112921-112921, Article 112921
• Main Authors: Xavier-Santos, Jacinthia Beatriz, Passos, Júlia Gabriela Ramos, Gomes, Jacyra Antunes Santos, Cruz, Joelly Vilaine Cavalcante, Alves, Jovelina Samara Ferreira, Garcia, Vinícius Barreto, da Silva, Rodrigo Moreira, Lopes, Norberto Peporine, Araujo-Junior, Raimundo Fernandes, Zucolotto, Silvana Maria, Silva-Junior, Arnóbio Antônio, Félix-Silva, Juliana, Fernandes-Pedrosa, Matheus Freitas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-inflammatory; Bothrops; Herbal gel; Ipomoea pes-caprae; Phytotherapic; Wound healing
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112921

The growing use of phytotherapy in clinical practice arouses interest in studies using medicinal plants as active ingredients for new medicines. Ipomoea pes-caprae has a wide medicinal use in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, skin wounds, stings, and painful rheumatic processes. Assayed in this study are the physicochemical characterization of a gel developed with this extract and the evaluation of its anti-inflammatory and healing efficacy, in addition to its antiedematogenic action on Bothrops snake envenoming in mice. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the hydroethanolic extract by mass spectrometry showed 18 phenolic compounds, highlighting a high content of chlorogenic acid (0.92 µg/g), neochlorogenic acid (6.07 µg/g), and isochlorogenic acid (0.80 µg/g) compounds. The formulation was stable in relation to the physical-chemical characteristics during the time of analysis and was considered safe for topical treatment in animals, causing no skin irritation. Although the results have shown an absence of activity in the model of ear edema induced by croton oil (acute inflammation), the herbal gel efficiently inhibited carrageenan paw edema and chronic ear edema induced by multiple applications of croton oil, which may indicate the possible performance under the kinin pathway such as bradykinin, histamine, and serotonin. Wound healing in the group treated with the I. pes-caprae gel was accelerated compared with the placebo group, also confirmed through histological data. Edema induced by Bothrops erythromelas snake venom was efficiently reduced in the treatment with I. pes-caprae gel associated with the antibothropic-crotalic serum, whereas the antivenom alone was not effective. This approach presents a promising formulation based on I. pes-caprae with potential therapeutic use for inflammatory disorders. [Display omitted] •Gel containing Ipomoea pes-caprae (Ipc) phenolic-rich leaf extract was developed and evaluated.•Ipc gel inhibited inflammation in acute and chronic models.•Ipc gel accelerated the wound healing process.•Snake venom-induced edema was inhibited by Ipc gel.