Research suggests that Sangre de Grado (Dragon's Blood), the red resin from South American Croton species, may support wound healing through several biological mechanisms. A 1995 in vivo rat study found that crude dragon's blood promoted wound contraction, crust formation, collagen production, and skin regeneration, and also identified specific constituents — notably the lignan 3',4-O-dimethylcedrusin and proanthocyanidins — as contributing to these effects through different and sometimes opposing pathways. Notably, proanthocyanidins appeared to aid wound contraction and crust formation while simultaneously reducing fibroblast proliferation, suggesting that the healing benefit of the whole resin likely depends on the synergistic interaction of its multiple components rather than any single compound. The available evidence base is currently limited to a single animal study, and no human clinical trials were included in this review, so conclusions about efficacy in humans cannot be drawn at this time.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In vivo wound healing activity of Dragon's Blood (Croton spp.), a traditional... | Other | 1995 | Supports | 100 |