Invasive Honey Locust Trees as Natural Wound Dressings
Written by Victoria Stewart
Edited by Kelly Chau
July 31st 2021
Edited by Kelly Chau
July 31st 2021
In the woody Balkan regions of Eastern Europe as well as regions in North America, Gleditsia triacanthos or the Honey Locust exists as a resilient, invasive plant species. Able to grow in nutrient poor environments, the tree actively clogs streams, dominates the local ecosystem with dense roots, and inhibits any potential plant diversity. At first glance, the tree seems impossible to view in a positive light. However, at the University of Bucharest a study has instead considered the invasive species as an opportunity. Rather than attempting to weed out the dominating trees, researchers have looked further into the interesting properties of the woody seed pods as well as the leaves, which combined could be promising substitutes for wound dressings.
But what makes a good wound dressing, and why does Gleditsia triacanthos seem to fit the bill? Properties such as moisture absorption, antimicrobial abilities, and translucency all ensure that a wound heals faster by preventing infection and aiding the hospital’s ability to visualize the progress of the wound. Fulfilling these requirements, the Honey Locust, with its invasive nature, may be an easily accessible resource for the medical field.
In the study, the researchers extracted the woody substance from the seed pods to use as a base for the potential dressing. Then, from the leaves, they extracted and incorporated phenolic compounds. They called this the functionalized seed pod, and for comparison the researchers also examined ground seed pods without the functional phenolic compounds.
Next, to evaluate the antimicrobial abilities necessary for wound dressings, the researchers tested the leaves’ phenolic compounds against common clinical strains such as E.coli, Staphylococcus, yeast, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compared to the unfunctionalized pod, the researchers found a greater antimicrobial affinity in the treated seed pod, which had a lower microbial recovery rate.
From here, the researchers began to evaluate the dressing properties of the treated seed pods, analysing the usage of the woody seed pods as a base for the phenolic compounds. When tested with a saline solution, the ground and functionalized seed pods demonstrated more absorption compared to the unfunctionalized seed pods. After inspection of the two materials under a scanning electron microscope, the researchers observed that the treated pods had a rougher surface than the smooth, untreated pods. This rough surface serves a valuable function for the retention of moisture and capacity to hold phenolic compounds, both of which are critical for an effective wound dressing.
With an absorbent base derived from its woody seed pods and the antimicrobial antioxidants from its leaves, Gleditsia triacanthos contributes to biomedical sustainability as an abundant and biodegradable resource. While the use of the hardy seed pods can control the efficient and widespread reproduction of the Honey Locust, it also provides medical facilities with effective dressings from natural materials. With the modern emphasis on sustainable innovation, the invasive Honey Locust proves itself to be a natural alternative for the future of the biomedical industry, where human necessities can not only function more efficiently but also prove to be eco-friendly.