Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc (Asteraceae) has been used in traditional medicine in the Caribbean and Central America for stubborn wounds, sores, swelling, arthritic painful joints. The present study was carried out to derive bioactive compounds from ethanolic extracts of W. trilobata (L.) leaves that could influence wound healing. W. trilobata leaves extract were subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation. The five fractions (WEA1-A, B, C, D, and E) obtained were tested for antimicrobial activity. Out of the five fractions only the fraction (WEA1-B) containing ent-kaura-9(11),16-dien-19-oic acid showed promising antibacterial activity with MIC value of 15.62μg/ml against S. aureus and 7.81μg/ml against S. epidermidis. It was then further assessed for its possible activity on fibroblasts by measuring their percentage cell viability and on oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. WEA1-B (2.5-0.08μg/ml) produced an increase in the percentage viability of mouse fibroblast L929 cells from 97 to 117% and protection of the fibroblast L929 cells against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (94-80%). The present study provides some scientific evidence for the traditional use of W. trilobata in the management of wound healing due to a combination of antimicrobial, stimulation of fibroblast growth and protection of the cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced injury, all of which could play some role in its effect on tissue repair.
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