Evaluating the Wound Healing Potential of Characterized Bergenia ciliata-Loaded Salvia hispanica Hydrogel in Diabetic Mice.

Abstract

The current study assessed the wound healing potential of Bergenia ciliata (BC) extract, BC-loaded Salvia hispanica hydrogel (CH-BC) and Bergenia ciliata nanoparticles (NPs)-loaded Salvia hispanica hydrogel (CH-BC AgNPs/NPs-loaded hydrogel) using in vitro and in vivo studies. The prepared hydrogel and its components were analyzed using UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis/particle size analyzer (PSA), zeta potential, fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Peaks and peak shifts at 450-460, 250-260, and 270-280 nm in UV-vis and FT-IR (500-4000 cm^-1) confirmed extract loading and various functional group presence. DLS confirmed the nanometric size of BC AgNP while zeta potential indicated the slightly negative charge of prepared hydrogel. SEM assessed the average size and topography of Bergenia ciliata-mediated nanoparticles (BC AgNPs) and BC AgNPs loaded hydrogel (CH-BC AgNPs), and XRD peaks at various 2ϴ (10-70) confirmed the topographical and crystalline and porous nature of materials. Bergenia ciliata extract showed higher radical scavenging (74.19% ± 1.84%) and iron chelation activity (93.70 ± 2.20) at 50 and 25 μL/mL, respectively, while CH-BC AgNPs produced the lowest (48.97% ± 3.0%) at 25 and 75 μL/mL (54.35 ± 3.24). Moreover, Chia hydrogel (CH) synergistically enhanced (1.30%) DPPH scavenging. The wound contraction percentage augmented the CH-BC AgNPs as the potent candidate for wound healing (14th day). These findings were further supported by a significant (p < 0.001) restoration of MMP2 (184.6 ± 11.7 pg/mL), TIMPs (184.8 ± 15.7 pg/mL), GPx (153.4 ± 11.5 pg/mL), and IL-6 (10 ± 1 pg/mL) levels as compared to those of diabetic negative control. The normal reepithelization, angiogenesis, and maturation of wounds in treatment groups after histological analysis further strengthened the supposed rationale that CH, along with the BC extract and CH-BC AgNPs, can act synergistically to improve therapeutic results. Hence, CH-BC appeared as a sustainable, biocompatible, and nontoxic agent for wound healing and paved the way for futuristic biomedical investigations.