Extracts of Terminalia sericea Enhance Cell Migratory Activity of Endothelial Hybrid and Fibroblast Cells In Vitro.

Terminalia sericea is a plant that has been used amongst others medicinally to treat wounds. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro wound healing ability of T. sericea. Hot water, methanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts were prepared. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS) were used to determine the phytochemical classes and genus specific compounds present in the plant. Cytotoxicity was assessed in the SC-1 fibroblast and EA.hy926 endothelial hybrid cell lines using the sulforhodamine B assay. The effect of the extracts on cellular migration in both cell lines was assessed using the scratch assay. The major phytochemical classes detected in the extracts using TLC were alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolics, saponins, sterols, and terpenoids. The genus-specific compounds punicalagin, sericoside, anolignan B, and arjunic acid were identified in the extracts by means of UPLC-QTOF-MS. Cytotoxicity was not observed after 24 h of exposure and a generally low cytotoxic trend was noted after 72 h. A significant (p < 0.05) enhancement of cell migration in both cell lines was noted in the scratch assay. The wound healing ability of T. sericea is mainly attributed to the migratory and proliferative activity of the extracts responsible for the acceleration of wound closure. Isolation and individualized testing of the active compounds is warranted.