Novel Sorghum bicolor (L.) seed polysaccharide structure, hemolytic and antioxidant activities, and laser burn wound healing effect.

This work was undertaken to determine the structural characteristics of a novel polysaccharide, Sorghum Water-Soluble Polysaccharide (SWSP), extracted from Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)) seeds and to assess its in vitro hemolytic and antioxidant activities as well as its in vivo wound healing ability to treat burns induced by fractional CO₂ laser. Results obtained by ¹³C, ¹H and HSQC Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) indicated that SWSP showed the characteristic bands of polysaccharides. Scanning electron microscopy of SWSP showed a rough surface with numerous cavities. SWSP exhibited strong antioxidant activities determined through three different assays: ferrous chelating activity, reducing power and DNA nicking. Also, no hemolytic activity was detected towards human erythrocytes. On the other hand, the application of SWSP hydrogel on the burn site in a rat model significantly improved wound appearance and accelerated the wound closure after 8 days of induction. Histological assessment of biopsies also demonstrated complete re-epithelialized wounds with a full epidermal regeneration. Thus, SWSP hydrogel which was efficient on wound closure might be useful as a wound healing agent in modern medicine.