Effect of transforming growth factor-beta on excision wound healing process treated by Mikania micrantha extract cream

Mikania micrantha has been historically used as the traditional medicine to treat a wounds. One of the important growth factors in the wound healing process is transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). However, no study is available to explain further the effects of M. micrantha on wound healing, especially on gene expression. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the TGF-beta gene expression in the wound healing process in the presence of Mikania micrantha on Sprague Dawley rat wound model. It was interesting to note that the utilization of Mikania micrantha cream reduced the diameter of the wounds by 60 % better than the commercially available positive control Solcoseryl jelly. The result of wound size evaluations also revealed a statistically significant difference throughout the eight days of treatment (p < 0.05) between the utilization of Mikania micrantha cream in comparison to the positive and negative controls. In addition, RNA was isolated from the skin sample and was processed for amplification with real-time PCR to evaluate TGF-beta gene expression during the treatment. Gene expression evaluation showed upregulation of the TGF-beta gene during the first two days of treatment and downregulation on the later days of treatment. It was concluded that TGF-beta gene expression was increased in the wound healing process with Mikania micrantha. Through this research finding, Mikania micrantha extract cream could accelerate wound healing and may serve as a novel therapeutic drug to treat cutaneous wounds.