ABSTRACT
Aim: This study investigates the wound healing activity of ethanol leaf extract of Erythrina senegalensis using excision wound model on albino rats. Methodology: Several herbal extract formulations were prepared with Petroleum Jelly ointment base. Cicatrin® powder (neomycin-bacitracin) was used as the positive control. The various ointment formulations were applied topically on the wounds daily for 21 days. Daily wound contraction and epithelialisation times were recorded for each group. The antibacterial activity of the extract was also evaluated against some bacteria species implicated in wound infections. The following test organisms were used: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Results: The Phytochemical analysis revealed that alkaloids were abundant in the extract. The herbal ointment at various concentrations showed significant (P<.05) increase in percentage wound contraction on day 9 – 21 compared with the control group that received only the ointment base. The contraction produced by 40% w/w of the extract was similar to that of Cicatrin® powder on day 6 – 21. The results also revealed significant (P<.05) reduction in epithelialisation time exhibited by the extract treated animals compared to those of the control group. The result of antimicrobial studies showed that the extract inhibited the test organisms at concentrations ranging from 200 to 12.5 mg/mL. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of the extract on the test isolates was recorded at 25mg/mL for both S. aureus and E. coli and 6.25mg/ml for K. pneumoniae. P. aeruginosa showed no susceptibility to both the extract and the control drug at the concentrations evaluated. Conclusion: The marked reduction of wound size and epithelialisation time by the extract is an indication of its wound healing potentials. Also, the antibacterial activity of this plant against bacterial species implicated in wound infections may contribute to the enhanced wound healing activity.
ABSTRACT
Wound healing is a transition of processes which is also recognized as one of the most complex processes in human physiology. Complex series of reactions and interactions among cells and mediators take place in the healing process of wound involving cellular and molecular events. The inflammatory phase is naturally intended to remove devitalized tissue and prevent invasive infection. The proliferative phase is characterized by the formation of granulation tissue within the wound bed, composed of new capillary network, fibroblast, and macrophages in a loose arrangement of supporting structure. This second phase lasts from day 8 to 21 after the injury is also the phase for epithelialisation. The natural period of proliferative phase is a reflection for us in treating wound to reach the goal which ultimately defines as closed wound. The final maturation phase is also characterized by the balancing between deposition of collagen and its degradation. There are at least three prerequisites which are ideal local conditions for the nature of wound to go on a normal process of healing i.e. 1) all tissue involved in the wound and surrounding should be vital, 2) no foreign bodies in the wound, and 3) free from excessive contamination/infection. The author formulated a step ladder of thinking in regards of healing intentions covering all acute and chronic wounds. Regarding the “hierarchy” of healing intention, the fi rst and ideal choice to heal wounds is by primary intention followed by tertiary intention and lastly the secondary intention.