# Study of the Cytotoxic and Wound Healing Activity of Polysaccharides from Bovistella utriformis

## TL;DR

This study shows that polysaccharides from Bovistella utriformis are safe and promote wound healing and tissue regeneration in both lab and animal models.

## Contribution

The study introduces B. utriformis polysaccharides as novel bioactive compounds with wound-healing and regenerative potential.

## Key findings

- PsBU showed no cytotoxicity and increased cell viability at higher concentrations.
- PsBU promoted wound closure in vitro and enhanced zebrafish fin regeneration in vivo.
- Proteomic analysis revealed upregulation of proteins involved in tissue repair and cell cycle regulation.

## Abstract

Bovistella utriformis (Bull.) Demoulin & Rebriev is a cosmopolitan puffball mushroom traditionally recognized for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic profile, regenerative potential, and molecular effects of polysaccharides extracted from B. utriformis (PsBU) using complementary in vitro and in vivo approaches. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed good thermal stability up to 300 °C with 26.91% residual mass at 800 °C. Human HaCaT keratinocytes were used to assess cell viability, proliferation, and cell-cycle distribution through MTT assays and flow cytometry, while wound-healing activity was examined using in vitro scratch assays. PsBU exhibited no cytotoxic effects across concentrations from 19.53 to 10,000 µg mL−1, with cell viability remaining above 68%. At 5000 and 10,000 µg mL−1, viability increased to 130% and 126%, respectively. The optimal in vitro wound-healing effect was observed at 500 µg mL−1, achieving 40% wound closure at 32 h. Label-free quantitative proteomic analysis by UHPLC-HRMS identified 83 differentially expressed proteins, including upregulation of tissue repair-related factors such as plasminogen and FHL2, alongside modulation of cell-cycle regulation and mRNA transport pathways. In vivo zebrafish caudal fin regeneration assays demonstrated maximal regenerative activity at 200 µg mL−1 (p < 0.001 vs. control). Overall, these findings demonstrate that B. utriformis polysaccharides are safe bioactive compounds that promote key biological processes involved in tissue regeneration, supporting their potential application as natural wound-healing agents.