Phoenix dactylifera L. sap enhances wound healing in Wistar rats: Phytochemical and histological assessment

The sap of the date palm Lagmi is a clear liquid, rich in sugars and minerals, with a pleasant flavour. Folk remedies based on the use of Lagmi for wound healing are still practiced. However, no studies investigated the relevance of Lagmi for wound healing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the in vivo healing properties of lagmi on mechanically wounded wistar rats. Injured rats were divided into three groups: a first group treated by lagmi, a second reference group processed by CICAFLORA (R) and a third untreated control group. On the 12th day of the experiment, total healing in the first group was reached, while healing was incomplete in the other groups. The sap seems to accelerate cell proliferation and contribute to faster healing with a gain of more than 30% as compared to CICAFLORA (R). Chemical Analysis of Lagmi showed important radical scavenging activity and high total antioxidant capacity. Features reported to help healing process and/or provides a favourable environment for tissue healing in wound sites. Extensive characterization of Lagmi phenolic and flavonoid compounds by High Resolution LC-MS (LC-HRESIMS) analysis indicates Lagmi is an important source of known anti-inflammatory compounds as well as promising wound healing candidates. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.