Reactive oxygen species associated with a wound are modulated through treatment of the wound with a solution of metal ions selected from the group consisting of potassium ions, zinc ions, calcium ions and rubidium ions, at a pH of between about 5 and about 7. Preferably, citric acid is employed to adjust the pH of the solution. Application of the extract to a wound exhibiting superoxide anions has been found to be effective in the treatment of these wounds through the reduction of the level of superoxide anions. Moreover, treatment of partial thickness excision wounds as well as contact burn wounds with the present composition has been found to improve epithelialization of these wounds. In addition to the antioxidant activity of the present invention, treatment of the wound employing the present composition produces inhibitory effects on ROS production by human PMNs and on human complement activation, and therefore, is further beneficial in chronic wound management.
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