Charles Darwin University (CDU) has discovered two medicinal plants native to northern Australia that have powerful wound-healing, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. The results of two studies have been published in the journals BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies and Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.

One of the samples was the fibrous calophyllum plant (Calophyllum inophyllum), from which a nanoemulsion was isolated - a mixture of liquids with nano-sized oil drops. The second object of the study was tinospora smilacina (Tinospora smilacina), from which an aqueous extract of the leaves was obtained.

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The analysis showed that both plants are particularly rich in bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids and fatty acids, which are able to effectively heal wounds, fight pathogens, and also have antioxidant effects. Since ancient times, these plants have been actively used in traditional medicine for the treatment of skin diseases, wounds and pain, as well as for the treatment of snake bites, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

The scientists now plan to continue studying the samples and their bioactive compounds both in vitro and in vivo. The discovery will allow the use of these compounds in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, including the creation of new anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as drugs for diseases with multidrug resistance.