Estudo da atividade cicatrizante da lectina de folhas da Bauhinia monandra kurz em feridas cutâneas de ratos

Abstract

Lectins of plant origin are non-immunological proteins that agglutinate red blood cells due to their high ability to bind reversibly to carbohydrates. Several researches have evidenced its action as insecticidal, antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and healing agent. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the healing activity in cream containing lectin BmoLL in Bauhinia Monandra Kurz (cowpaw) leaves applied daily to skin wounds in Wistar rats, evaluated by macroscopic, morphometric and histological techniques. Forty animals were used, divided into two groups containing 20 animals each, forming a treated group (received the cream and identified by LL) and the control group (received the vehicle and identified by L). Each group was divided into four subgroups containing five animals each (for example, for the control group, L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5), which were evaluated at 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st postoperative days. -operatively, respectively. In each animal were made two surgical wounds (right and left antimer) leaving the adjacent muscle fascia. Wounds were measured for degree of contraction and evaluated morphologically and histologically for mast cell number, collagen fiber density and neovascularization. The degree of wound contraction was significantly higher in the treated group (p <0.05) when compared to the control group. The treated group also presented larger amount of blood vessels, collagen fibers and mast cells. Bauhinia Monandra Kurz's BmoLL lectin-containing cream showed to be efficient in the wound healing process, in which it was able to express properties of modulating the inflammatory process and stimulating cell multiplication and the structures necessary for the healing process.