Effect of plantago major on wound healing in hyperglycaemic mice

Background: Plantago major is used as a wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant agent. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of topical treatment of cream containing P. major extract on the healing process in hyperglycaemic mice. Methods: The control group (CG) received topical treatment with the cream base, and the intervention group (IG) received topical treatment with the cream base containing P. major extract. The healing process was examined on days 0, 3, 7 and 14 post-injury. Specifically, leukocytes, blood vessels and fibroblasts were examined using haematoxylin and eosin staining, and cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-α) and growth factors (transforming growth factor [TGF]-β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) were examined with western blotting. Results: Compared with the GC, the IG showed more inflammatory cells on day 3 post-injury, more fibroblasts on days 3 and 7 post-injury, and more blood vessels on day 7 post-injury. Western blotting revealed a higher VEGF expression on day 7 post-injury in the IG compared with the CG. Conclusion: P. major increased inflammatory cells, but without increasing the protein expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and increased fibroblasts, blood vessels and VEGF protein expression.