Symptom → Plant Sources
Field restharrow (Ononis arvensis) as a tool for helping with Wounds
Isoflavonoid wound-healing agents from restharrow root.
Ethnopharmacological relevance Dried roots of Ononis spinosa L. are traditionally used for their diuretic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. Aim of the study Isolation of the bioactive compounds of Ononis spinosa L. subsp. leiosperma (Boiss.) Sirj. Materials and methods Ethyl acetate extract prepared from the roots of Ononis spinosa L. subsp. leiosperma (Boiss.) Sirj. was subjected to silica gel column. The fractions were tested for their wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities. Linear incision and circular excision wound models and hydroxypyroline estimation assay were used for the wound healing activity. Carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, TPA-induced ear edema and acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability tests as acute inflammation; FCA-induced arthritis as chronic inflammation models were used for the assessment of anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant capacities of the fractions were tested using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) scavenging activity assay, reducing power assay and hydroxyl radical (OH - ) scavenging assay. The isolation procedure was continued with the active fraction (Fr-E5). Results Fr-E5 exhibited remarkable wound healing activity with the 33.4% tensile strength value on the linear incision wound model and 51.4% reduction of the wound area at the day 12 on the circular excision wound model. Hydroxyproline content of the tissue treated by Fr-E5 was found to be 30.9 ± 0.72μg/mg. Acetic acid induced increase in capillary permeability test results revealed that Fr-E5 inhibited inflammation by the value of 40.3%. Fr-E5 showed 28.1-32.2% inhibition in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema test while did not possess activity on TPA-induced ear edema and FCA-induced arthritis models. Trifolirhizin, ononin, medicarpin-3-O-glucoside, onogenin-7-O-glucoside and sativanone-7-O-glucoside were isolated from Fr-E5 and tested for their wound healing activities using by measuring their inhibition of hyaluronidase, collagenase and elastase enzymes. Ononin and sativanone-7-O-glucoside inhibited hyaluronidase and elastase enzymes by 31.66% and 41.75%; 45.58% and 46.88% values respectively at the dose of 100μg/mL. Conclusion Among five isolated compounds, ononin and sativanone-7-O-glucoside were found to inhibit hyaluronidase and elastase enzymes. According to the results, these compounds may majorly be responsible for the wound healing activity of the extract.
1 source supporting Field restharrow for Wounds. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's antimicrobial, vulnerary (wound healing) actions. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
In this study field restharrow (Ononis arvensis) was investigated for histological and antimicrobial features. The aerial part and the root were embedded in synthetic resin and investigated following sectioning by a rotation microtome. The antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration of the solvent fractions of the aerial part were studied against four bacterial strains and one fungus. According to histology, the root covered by rhizodermis contains contiguous vascular elements, which are surrounded by sclerenchyma cells. The epidermis cells are anisodiametric in the stem, sepal, and petal. The bundles of the stem form a Ricinus type thickening. The adaxial side of the heterogeneous leaf is covered by unbranching non-glandular and capitate glandular trichomes. The stipule, petiole, sepals and petals are isolateral having mesomorphic stomata. Pollen grains are tricolpate. The different extracts of the herb showed antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Data show that the extracts of the leaf contain compounds which may be responsible for the antifungal effect, while extracts obtained from display against the tested bacteria, except Escherichia coli. Further studies are required to complete the phytochemical analysis and identify the antimicrobial compounds of extracts.
Ononis spinosa L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as spiny restharrow, is a widely distributed medicinal plant traditionally used in European and Middle Eastern phytotherapy, particularly for the management of urological and inflammatory conditions. Despite its long-standing ethnomedicinal relevance, comprehensive syntheses of its phytochemical profile and biological activities remain limited. This review aimed to summarize current evidence regarding the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of O. spinosa . Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SpringerLink) were searched for studies published between 1997 and 2024. The search yielded 308 records; after duplicate removal and eligibility screening, 34 studies met the inclusion criteria. The phytochemical profile of O. spinosa is characterized predominantly by isoflavonoids (e.g., ononin and other formononetin derivatives), triterpenes, phenolic acids, and additional polyphenolic compounds. Although the phytochemical profile of O. spinosa includes multiple classes of secondary metabolites, this review places particular emphasis on phenolic compounds, given their prevalence and well-documented biological activities. Experimental evidence indicates a broad spectrum of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects (associated with cPLA2α inhibition and cytokine modulation), antibacterial and antifungal activity, antioxidant capacity, wound-healing and dermatological benefits, as well as diuretic and anti-adhesive effects in urinary models. Additional reported properties include antiproliferative, anti-adipogenic, analgesic, and neurotrophic activities. Proposed mechanisms of action involve enzyme inhibition (e.g., Hyal-1 and COX-2), modulation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, redox regulation, and interference with microbial adhesion and inflammatory signaling pathways. Overall, O. spinosa contains bioactive compounds exhibiting a wide range of pharmacological activities supported by in vitro and in vivo studies. Among the investigated effects, anti-inflammatory, urological, and wound-healing activities appear to be the most promising targets for future research. These findings highlight its therapeutic potential while emphasizing the need for well-designed clinical studies to further validate its medicinal applications.
Human hyaluronidase-1 (Hyal-1) is one of the main enzymes in the homeostasis of hyaluronic acid (HA), the main polysaccharide of extracellular matrix. Development of specific Hyal-1 inhibitors might be a promising target for improved wound healing, tissue regeneration, and looking at renal function for diuresis. By using surface-displayed Hyal-1 on Escherichia coli F470 cells, HA as substrate and stains-all method for quantification of undegraded HA, the respective enzyme activity can be determined easily. Based on the traditional use of extracts from the roots from Ononis spinosa L. (Restharrow root) as a weak diuretic to achieve flushing of the urinary tract and as an adjuvant in minor urinary complaints the herbal material was selected for bioactivity guided fractionation for compounds with Hyal-1 inhibition activity. Hot water and hydroalcoholic extracts showed moderate inhibiting effects (IC 50 1.36 resp. 0.73 mg/mL) while dichloromethane extract exerted an IC 50 of 190 μg/mL. Bioassay guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract yielded four isoflavonoids with anti Hyal-1 activity: onogenin 1, sativanone 2, medicarpin 3 and calycosin-D 4 with inhibition rates of 25.4, 61.2, 22.4 and 23.0%, respectively at test concentration level of 250 μM. The norneolignan clitorienolactone B 5, the first time described for the genus Ononis, was inactive. The IC 50 of sativanone, the most active compound was determined with 1501 μM, which was better than that of the positive control glycyrrhizinic acid (177 μM). Thus, a possible explanation for diuretic properties of Ononis spinosa L. root extract may be postulated from the results so far obtained.