Aqueous extract emulsifying ointment of Marphysa moribidii (Annelida: Polychaeta) increases collagen deposition in wound healing model at low concentration

Acute wound cases are increasing every year. Meanwhile, current treatments have many adverse impacts; thus, alternative treatment is required. Marphysa moribidii; a local polychaete is found to has a promising potential as a wound-healing agent due to its regenerative capability. However, no prior study has been conducted to prove this notion. Hence, this study is aimed to determine the effectiveness of aqueous extract of M. moribidii in wound healing treatment. The polychaete was finely pulverized and lyophilized by freeze-dryer to form a powdery-form extract before preparing in three different concentrations: 0.3% (w/w), 1.0% (w/w), and 2.0% (w/w) in ointment form. The treatments including Gamat oil 0.4% (w/w) as control were applied to the rat model once daily for 14 days. Gamat oil (0.4%) demonstrated the most rapid wound healing, followed by polychaete ointment (0.3%). However, based on Masson’s trichrome staining, the polychaete ointment exhibited the most collagen deposition compared to other treatments. The staining indicates a more effective healing process of the wound after treated with the polychaete ointment. Based on the findings, polychaete extract has great potential in wound healing; more detailed studies are needed to gain more evidences

Effectiveness of Aqueous Extract of Marine Baitworm Marphysa moribidii Idris, Hutchings and Arshad, 2014 (Annelida, Polychaeta), on Acute Wound Healing Using Sprague Dawley Rats

Wound healing is a well-coordinated process that restores skin integrity upon injury. However, some wound treatment poses harmful effects on the skin, which delay the normal wound healing process. Marphysa moribidii, a marine baitworm or polychaete, represents unique ability to regenerate posterior segment after injury, which may be beneficial in the wound healing treatment. The effectiveness of the polychaete as wound healing treatment was discovered through skin irritation, microbial testing, animal wound model, and chemical identifications. Three polychaete extracts (PE) emulsifying ointment (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%) were topically applied to the full thickness wound model once daily for 14 days. Interestingly, PE 1.0% revealed the most rapid wound healing effects as compared to other treatments, including gamat (sea cucumber) oil (15% w/v) and acriflavine (0.1% w/v). Histopathological analysis using Masson’s trichrome staining further confirms that PE treated wound exhibited minimal scar, high collagen deposition, and the emergence of neovascularisation. The extract also displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.4 g/ml against Escherichia coli and absence of skin irritation, infectious bacteria, and heavy metals from the extract. Moreover, chemical compounds such as alkaloid, flavonoid, amino acids, and organic acid were detected in M. moribidii extracts, which could contribute to wound healing activity. In conclusion, this study further justifies the beneficial use of polychaete in treating wound healing and could be developed as a novel bioactive agent in nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical drugs

Acute Wound Healing Potential of Marine Worm, Diopatra claparedii Grube, 1878 Aqueous Extract on Sprague Dawley Rats

Diopatra claparedii which is colloquially known as Ruat Sarung can be found along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The species has a unique ability to regenerate anterior and posterior segments upon self-amputation or injury, thus having potential as a wound healing promoter. In this study, the wound healing potential of D. claparedii aqueous extract on acute wound model in rats was revealed for the first time. Various concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0% w/w) of D. claparedii ointment were formulated and tested on Sprague Dawley rats through topical application on full-thickness skin wounds for 14 days. The wound healing effects were investigated via behaviour observation, wound contraction, and histopathological analysis. Quality assessment was performed via skin irritation test, microbial contamination test (MCT), and heavy metal detection. The study also included test for antibacterial activities and detection of bioactive compounds in D. claparedii. One percent of D. claparedii ointment showed rapid wound healing potential with good soothing effects and more collagen deposition in comparison to the commercial wound healing ointments such as acriflavine (0.1% w/v) and traditional ointment gamat (sea cucumber extract) (15.0% w/v). No local skin irritation, microbial contamination, and insignificant concentration of heavy metals were observed, which indicate its safe application. Moreover, the aqueous extract of D. claparedii exhibited antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value at 0.4 g/ml. 1H NMR analysis of the aqueous extract of D. claparedii revealed some metabolites that might be responsible for its wound healing properties such as amino acids, halogenated aromatics, organic acids, vitamins, and others. Altogether, these results suggested that the aqueous extract of D. claparedii could be utilised as an alternative natural wound healing promoter