Efficacy of purslane extract in the treatment of oral ulcer, and its effects on cellular immunity and inflammatory factors in rats

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effects of purslane extract on oral ulcer, and explore its effects on cellular immunity and inflammatory factors in rats, to provide reference for clinical drug use.

MethodsThe rat oral ulcer model was established by antigen emulsion method.The rats were divided into the blank control group, model control group (no medication), oral ulcer powder group (treatment with oral ulcer powder suspension painting) and purslane extract group (treatment with purslane solution gavage) (8 rats each group).The number, duration and therapeutic effect of oral ulcer in all groups were observed.The levels of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and T cell subsets were compared among all groups.

ResultsThe differences of the number and duration of oral ulcer among all groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01), which in purslane extract group were significantly lower than those in oral ulcer powder group and model control group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and which in oral ulcer powder group was significantly lower than that in model control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).The therapeutic effect in oral ulcer powder group was better than that in model control group, and which in purslane extract group was better than that in oral ulcer powder group and model control group (P < 0.05).The differences of the serum levels of inflammatory factors among all groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01), the serum level of IFN-γ in model control group was significantly lower than that in blank control group, the serum levels of IFN-γ in oral ulcer powder group and purslane extract group were significantly higher than that in model control group, and the serum level of IFN-γ in purslane extract group was higher than that in oral ulcer powder group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2 in model control group significantly increased compared with the blank control group, which in oral ulcer powder group and purslane extract group were lower than those in model control group (P < 0.01), and the differences of the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2 between oral ulcer powder group and purslane extract group were not statistically significant (P>0.05).The differences of the T lymphocyte subsets levels among all groups were statistically significant (P < 0.01), the levels of CD3⁺、CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in model control group were significantly lower than those in blank control group, and the serum level of CD8⁺ in model control group was significantly higher than that in blank control group (P < 0.01).The serum levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in oral ulcer powder group and purslane extract group were higher than those in model control group (P < 0.01), the serum levels of CD8⁺ in oral ulcer powder group and purslane extract group were lower than that in model control group (P < 0.01), and the serum levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in purslane extract group were significantly higher than those in oral ulcer powder group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe purslane extract can effectively shorten the duration of ulcer, reduce the number of ulcers, and improve the efficiency of ulcer treatment.Its mechanism may be retated to enhance the immune function of body.