Pro-Angiogenic and Wound-Healing Potential of Bioactive Polysaccharides Extracted from Moroccan Algae Osmundea pinnatifida

Various therapeutic approaches have been explored to speed up wound healing, with angiogenesis being a crucial factor in this process and skin repair. This study shows that a polysaccharide extracted from the red alga Osmundea pinnatifida (PSOP) can promote angiogenesis and accelerate healing. The structural properties of PSOP were investigated using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier–transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–-visible spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a refractive index detector. Additionally, the in vitro antioxidant activity of PSOP was evaluated using the reducing power assay, total antioxidant capacity measurement, and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging tests. The PSOP extract exhibited significant pro-angiogenic effects in the avian chorioallantoic membrane model. Furthermore, the efficacy of PSOP-based hydrogels for wound healing was assessed in vivo using an excision wound model in Wistar rats. The results indicated accelerated wound healing, increased collagen deposition, and enhanced tissue regeneration. Computational studies suggest that the observed wound healing and pro-angiogenic effects may be attributed to the affinity of the PSOP units for cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings support the potential use of PSOP as a bioactive agent in wound care.