Ethnopharmacological relevance

Verbesina crocata (Cav.) Less. (Arnica or Capitaneja) is an endemic plant from Mexico restricted to the western part of the country. The aerial parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and burns. The objective of this investigation was to carry out a pharmacognostic study of V. crocata and establish markers that allow for the recognition of the characteristics of the plant and validate its traditional use. The study includes anatomical and chemical characteristics of the plant as well as evaluations of its antioxidant capacity and wound healing ability in a murine model.

Materials and methods

An anatomical study of V. crocata was performed on the middle part of the leaf and stem. A methanolic extract of this species (VcME) was obtained by methanolic maceration of the aerial parts. Subsequently, a partition of the VcME was made to obtain a hexanic fraction (VcH). The phytochemical preliminary screening and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) of the VcME and VcH were performed. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were quantified. The wound healing capacity of the methanolic extract was determined in CD-1 mice by the healing rate, the tensiometric method, and histological analysis.

Results

The anatomical study of V. crocata showed the presence of two types of secretory structures and their position on the leaves. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein and trichomes are potentially useful for recognition of the species. Chemical compounds detected by HPLC-ESI/MS reveal the presence of sitosterol glycoside and catechin derivatives as principal constituents of V. crocata. The VcME showed low antioxidant capacity and total phenolic. V. crocata had a similar healing effect to Recoveron® in the tensiometric method, but the rate of healing was higher. According to the histological analysis, the treatment of V. crocata promoted the remodelling phase 15 days after the incisional wound.

Conclusion

This is the first pharmacognostic study of this species that covers the plant anatomy, chemical content and biological properties related to its traditional use. V. crocata favours wound healing according to physical and histological evaluations. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein, trichomes and catechin glycosides are potentially useful for the recognition of this species.

中文翻译：

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马鞭草：治疗伤口愈合的生药研究

民族药理学相关性

Verbesina crocata (Cav.) 少。（山金车或 Capitaneja）是一种来自墨西哥的特有植物，仅限于该国西部。地上部分在传统医学中用于治疗伤口和烧伤。这项调查的目的是对V. crocata进行生药研究，并建立标记，以识别植物的特征并验证其传统用途。该研究包括植物的解剖学和化学特征，以及在小鼠模型中对其抗氧化能力和伤口愈合能力的评估。

材料和方法

对V. crocata的解剖学研究是在叶和茎的中间部分进行的。该物种的甲醇提取物 (VcME) 通过地上部分的甲醇浸渍获得。随后，对VcME进行分配以获得己烷部分(VcH)。通过高效液相色谱/质谱 (HPLC-ESI/MS) 对 VcME 和 VcH 进行植物化学初步筛选和表征。对抗氧化活性和总酚含量进行量化。通过愈合率、张力测定法和组织学分析在 CD-1 小鼠中测定甲醇提取物的伤口愈合能力。

结果

V. crocata的解剖学研究表明存在两种类型的分泌结构及其在叶子上的位置。此外，中脉和毛状体的特征可能对物种的识别有用。通过 HPLC-ESI/MS 检测到的化合物表明谷甾醇糖苷和儿茶素衍生物作为V. crocata的主要成分存在。VcME 显示出低抗氧化能力和总酚。V. crocata在张力法中与 Recoveron® 有相似的愈合效果，但愈合率更高。根据组织学分析，V. crocata的治疗促进了切口后 15 天的重塑阶段。

结论

这是对该物种的首次生药研究，涵盖了与其传统用途相关的植物解剖结构、化学成分和生物学特性。根据物理和组织学评估，V. crocata有利于伤口愈合。此外，中脉、毛状体和儿茶素苷的特征对于识别该物种具有潜在的用途。