Dr Trudi Collet

Research theme: Health

Research discipline: Cell and Molecular Biosciences

Research Program:  Tissue Repair & Regeneration

Research area: Wound management innovation:

• Compounds in Aboriginal medicinal plants and their effects on wound healing 

• The in vitro wound healing effects of Aboriginal medicinal plants 

Chronic wounds, often associated with venous and arterial ulcers, diabetes and pressure sores, is an area of major concern as the on-going and in-direct costs are substantial, reaching far beyond the costs of the physician and hospitalisation.  Current figures indicate that approximately six million people suffer from chronic wounds worldwide.  In Australia, the prevalence of chronic wounds (200,000 – 600,000), is estimated to be 7-8 times higher within the indigenous population compared with nonindigenous Australians.  Wound healing or wound repair is an intricate and complex process that requires the synergistic interaction of numerous tissues and cell lineages.  Thus, the innate wound healing process acts to moderate tissue damage and provide sufficient oxygenation and nutrition to facilitate restoration, function and anatomical continuity of the affected area.  Skin replacement, wound dressings and physical therapies are the three common approaches used to promote the healing of chronic wounds, whilst exposure to hyperbaric oxygen and application of topical growth factors are occasionally utilised.  Unfortunately, such approaches are expensive, ineffective or problematic due to unwanted side effects.  Pharmacological therapies have been developed to address these treatment insufficiencies, however, the availability of drugs capable of promoting the wound repair process still remains limited.  Aboriginal bush medicine has been used for thousands of years and thus, the wound healing ability of various herbal plants is well recognised amongst native Australians.  Recent studies have demonstrated that several Australian plant species used for medicinal purposes by the indigenous population do in fact produce biologically active extracts and compounds.  Hence, traditional herbal plants may provide avenues for promoting the wound healing process and improving patient outcomes with a concomitant reduction in associated treatment cost.  A scientific approach that examines the pharmacological efficacy of natural medicines reported to have an effect on wound healing is necessary to validate traditional accounts.

• Complementary herbal medicines and their bactericidal, bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory wound healing potential

The investigation of medicinal plants for their wound healing potential is an emergent and rapidly expanding field which is not limited to Aboriginal bush medicine.  “Classic” natural medicines such as aloe vera, calendula and hypericum for example are reported to have wound healing properties.  Also of interest is Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India, which is a holistic approach to healing that evolved more than 3,000 years ago.  Ayurvedic texts mention more than 1200 disease states and show that management of these diseases can be accomplished with the use of medicinal plants (90%), minerals, metals or ores (5%) and animal and marine products (5%).  Wound healing and cognate treatments, highlighted in many Ayurvedic texts are reported for their wound healing activity, although, like Chinese, Aboriginal and natural herbal medicines, the activity of various medicinal plants have not been scientifically validated. 

Areas of Expertise

• wound healing
• medical biotechnology
• protein chemistry
• complementary medicines
• immunology
• molecular microbiology

 Teaching Areas

• Pharmacology
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Immunology
• Infectious diseases

Selected research projects 

• The in vitro wound healing effects of Aboriginal medicinal plants.
• Identification of bioactive compounds in Aboriginal medicinal plants and their effects on wound healing.
• The in vitro wound healing effects of Chinese medicinal plants.
• The bactericidal, bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory wound healing potential of Ayurvedic medicinal plants.