Scientists from The Netherlands found that histatin, a small protein in saliva once believed to only kill bacteria, significantly accelerates wound healing. Researchers used epithelial cells that line the inner cheek, cultured in dishes until the surfaces were completely covered with cells. Then they made an artificial wound in the cell layer in each dish by scratching a small piece of the cells away. In one dish, cells were bathed in an isotonic fluid without any additions. In the other dish, cells were bathed in human saliva. Sixteen hours later, scientists noticed that the saliva treated wo