Fichtenbalsam (Picea abies) zur Wundheilung: Eine Bestandsaufnahme

The exudates of the conifers Picea abies, Larix decidua and Pinus nigra are well-known traditional herbal medicines used to cure wounds. Even though clinical trials with spruce balm have confirmed its empirical use, the active constituents, their mode of action, and the exact composition of this natural product were unknown. The balm of Norway spruce was subjected to fractionated extraction and further purification. Substances were isolated, identified and tested for increased re-epithelialization in an in vitro HaCaT keratinocyte-based scratch assay. Lignans and diterpene resin acids, main constituents of Norway spruce balm, were able to increase migration or proliferation in vitro. In parallel, balms, resins and fractions from three conifers were tested in the scratch assay. Balms and resins of Picea abies and Pinus nigra showed concentration dependency in vitro; significant activity was measured for Larix decidua. Diterpene resin acids are the main compounds of Norway spruce balm and represent eligible marker compounds for quality control. A validated supercritical fluidbased protocol for the separation and quantitation of diterpene resin acids was developed. The presented results substantiate the traditional application of conifer exudates, in particular Norway spruce balm, and provide an analytical method based on a sustainable technology for quality control.