Abstract
Chronic wounds are a global burden, which is escalated by diabetes, infections, and antimicrobial resistance. As a result, the combination of traditional herbal remedies with green nanotechnology has gained attention for developing novel and sustainable therapeutic solutions. Despite the promising biological activities of Ehretia rigida (Er), its potential in nanotechnology-driven wound healing remains unexplored. This study investigated the in vitro anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and potential wound-healing effects of Er silver nanoparticles (Er-AgNPs). The stability of the Er-AgNPs was tested in various biological media. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed via inhibition of thermally-induced Bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation. Cytotoxicity and wound healing efficacy were evaluated in skin fibroblasts (KMST-6) and keratinocytes (HaCaT) using the Water-Soluble Tetrazolium salt-1 (WST-1) and in vitro scratch assays, respectively. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for protein denaturation was 270.8 µg/ml for Er leaf extract and 532.9 µg/ml for Er-AgNPs, indicating stronger anti-inflammatory properties for the Er leaf extract. Er leaf extract and Er-AgNPs showed negligible cytotoxicity to KMST-6 and HaCat at concentrations < 25 µg/ml. Er-AgNPs promoted wound healing by increasing cell migration and wound closure rates in KMST-6 and HaCaT cells compared to the Er leaf extract alone. In conclusion, this study highlighted the potential of integrating traditional herbal medicine with green nanotechnology to develop innovative and effective solutions for treatment and management, fostering advances in sustainable healthcare.