The latex of the medicinal plant Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) has been widely used in folk medicine on dermatological disorders. Laticifer
proteins (LP) obtained from natural latex was used to prepare a biomembrane associated
with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in order to investigate their effects at wound healing.
Experimental protocols were registered on the Institutional Ethics Committee under
number 24/09. Swiss male mice (10 weeks) were subjected to surgery in the dorsal region
to induce excisional wound (1cm2) followed by implantation of Biomembranes containing 1% PVA or 0.2% LP associated
with PVA. On 2nd, 7th and 14th days after surgery each wound were measured by pachometer,
colleted for microscopic analysis and used for determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO),
nitrite and TNF-α levels. On the 2nd day was observed that the biomembrane containing
LP stimulated mast cell degranulation, infiltrate of polymorfonuclear cells, as indicated
by MPO, as well as increased nitrite and TNF-α levels. On the 7nd day, LP promoted
reduction in wound area and a higher infiltrate of mononuclear cells. On the 14th
day was observed that LP increased the population of fibroblasts and collagenesis.
Integrated analysis of all results suggest that LP act significantly in the inflammatory
phase of healing, which seems to directly influence the subsequent phases of the healing
process.
