Therapeutic Potential of <i>Salvia greggii</i> Extracts in Promoting Wound Healing: Insights From Scratch Assay, Wound Model, and Molecular Analysis

Wounds are a common cause of skin infections, and natural products are widely explored for their therapeutic potential. This study investigated the wound-healing activity of Salvia greggii A.Gray (Lamiaceae). Aerial parts were collected and extracted using different solvents. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric assays, respectively, while antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH method. Extracts were screened for cell viability, and the most active fractions were evaluated using a scratch assay in human gingival fibroblasts. An in vivo excision wound model in rats was used to assess wound contraction over 14 days. The methanol extract showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, whereas the ethyl acetate extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. LC-MS analysis of the methanol fraction identified compounds including benzoic, rosmarinic, and ferulic acids. Methanol and chloroform extracts enhanced cell viability, and the methanol extract achieved over 90% wound closure in vitro. In vivo, methanol-treated wounds demonstrated 97.85% contraction and improved tissue regeneration. Additionally, the methanol extract significantly reduced mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tnf-α, Il-1β, and Il-6). These findings suggest that S. greggii, particularly its methanol extract, promotes wound healing through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.