Background: The leaves of Dimetia capitellata (Wall. ex G.Don) Neupane & N.Wikstr. have been used as a traditional medicine to treat skin wounds in some human communities. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the wound healing activities of the 70% ethanolic extract of this plant’s leaves (DcEE) and its ethyl acetate (DcEAF), petroleum ether (DcPEF), and water (DcWF) fractions. Methods: The nitric oxide levels in LPS-activated RAW 26.7 cells were measured by Griss assay. The proliferation and migration of cells were assessed by MTT and scratchings methods, respectively. In an in vivo assay, skin wounds were created in mice and then daily treated with DcEE, and the wound contraction percentages were determined every day. The mRNA levels of inflammation-related genes were evaluated using qRT-PCR. Results: We found that the DcEE contained 74.7 ± 2.9 mgGAE/gE polyphenols and 66.5 ± 2.8 mgQE/gE flavonoids, and showed a weak antioxidant activity. The DcEE treatment also reduced the in vitro nitric oxide level released from LPS-stimulated RAW 26.7 macrophages by 89.8±8.2% and decreased the mRNA levels of inflammation-related genes NF-κB1 and TNF-α in wound tissues of the examined mice, suggesting its anti-inflammatory activity. Besides, DcEE stimulated fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation and induced keratinocyte migration. Importantly, in the in vivo assay, the wound closure time in DcEE-treated mice was reduced approximately 2 days in comparison with that in the control mice. Conclusions: These findings provided some evidence to prove the traditional utilization of D. capitellata leaves in skin wound treatment.
