Saliva helps heal wounds

A compound in human saliva can promote wound healing by increasing blood vessel formation that helps treat injuries, a scientist says, according to boldsky.

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Researchers examined the effects of the salivary peptide histamine-1 on angiogenesis, which is important for wound healing. Histatin-1 promotes angiogenesis, as well as cell adhesion and migration.

Vincent Torres, Associate Professor at the University of Chile (South America), said: "These findings open up new ways to better understand the biology behind the interaction between oral and skin healing.

We believe this research can help design better approaches to improve tissue wound healing, Torres said.

The researchers conducted experiments at three levels: endothelial, or blood vessel-forming, cells in culture, with chicken embryos serving as an animal model; and saliva samples obtained from healthy people.

Using these three models, histatin-1 and saliva were found to increase blood vessel formation. The researchers are taking the next step in this research by using these molecules to create materials and implants to aid wound healing.

According to TNO