METHODS AND RESULTS: Abnormal behaviour, clinical signs, postinjection survival and histopathology (kidney, liver, eye and brain) were measured. Cumulative mortality of CON+ , free cells, ALG and treatments (F1-F7) was 30, 24, 22, 19, 17, 17, 16, 14, 14 and 12 out of 30 fish and the survival rates for E. faecium ABRIINW.N7 microencapsulated in an alginate-BS blend with 0·5, 1, 1·5, 2, 2·5 and 3% fenugreek were 43, 43, 47, 53, 53 and 60%, respectively. After the incorporation of fenugreek with the alginate-BS blend, there was an 8-21% increase in probiotic cell viability. Furthermore, the survival rate for the alginate-BS blend with 2·5 and 3% fenugreek (F6 and F7) was significantly (P ≤ 0·05) higher than other blends. The highest encapsulation efficiency, viability in gastrointestinal conditions and during storage time and excellent antipathogenicity against S. iniae were observed in alginate-BS +3% fenugreek formulation (F7).
CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that probiotic strains like E. faecium ABRIINW.N7 in combination with local herbal gums, such as BS and fenugreek plus alginate, can be used as a suitable scaffold and an ideal matrix for the encapsulation of probiotics.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study proposes models connecting process parameters, matrix structure and functionality.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the wound healing ability of a concentrated extract of B. orientale in a hydrogel formulation in healing diabetic ulcer wounds.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The water extract from the leaves of B. orientale was separated from the crude methanolic extract and subjected to flash column chromatography techniques to produce concentrated fractions. These fractions were tested for phytochemical composition, tannin content, antioxidative and antibacterial activity. The bioactive fraction was formulated into a sodium carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel. The extract-loaded hydrogels were then characterized and tested on excision ulcer wounds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Wound size was measured for 14 days. Histopathological studies were conducted on the healed wound tissues to observe for epithelisation, fibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis. All possible mean values were subjected to statistical analysis using One-way ANOVA and post-hoc with Tukey's T-test (P<0.05).
RESULTS: One fraction exhibited strong antioxidative and antibacterial activity. The fraction was also highly saturated with tannins, particularly condensed tannins. Fraction W5-1 exhibited stronger antioxidant activity compared to three standards (α-Tocopherol, BHT and Trolox-C). Antibacterial activity was also present, and notably bactericidal towards Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at 0.25mg/ml. The extract-loaded hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning properties, with high moisture retention ability. The bioactive fraction at 4% w/w was shown to be able to close diabetic wounds by Day 12 on average. Other groups, including controls, only exhibited wound closure by Day 14 (or not at all). Histopathological studies had also shown that extract-treated wounds exhibited re-epithelisation, higher fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and angiogenesis.
CONCLUSION: The ethnopharmacological effects of using B. orientale as a topical treatment for external wounds was validated and was also significantly effective in treating diabetic ulcer wounds. Thus, B. orientale extract hydrogel may be presented as a potential treatment for diabetic ulcer wounds.