Ethnopharmacological relevance of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott: experimental validation of its wound healing potential

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott (taioba) is an edible plant widely consumed in South America and Africa, where it is traditionally used for the management of inflammatory conditions and skin lesions. Despite its ethnomedicinal relevance, scientific evidence supporting its wound-healing potential and underlying mechanisms remains limited. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and wound-healing activities of a hydroethanolic extract of X. sagittifolium (HEXS), and to characterize its chemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical profile of HEXS was determined by GC-MS. In vitro assays included DPPH radical scavenging, inhibition of nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, cytotoxicity, cytoprotection under oxidative stress, and fibroblast migration (scratch assay). In vivo wound healing was evaluated using a murine excisional wound model, including wound contraction, histopathological analysis, collagen deposition, antioxidant enzyme activity, and hematological parameters. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis revealed fatty acids and terpenoid compounds. HEXS showed antioxidant activity, reduced nitric oxide production, and exhibited low cytotoxicity with cytoprotective effects. The extract enhanced fibroblast migration in vitro. In vivo, topical treatment accelerated wound contraction, improved tissue organization, increased collagen deposition, and modulated oxidative stress markers. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the traditional use of X. sagittifolium and highlight its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for wound healing.