ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish the wound management property of a hydroethanolic Cnestis ferruginea leaf extract (CFHE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The wound area was measured after excision at the dorsal part of the Albino rats, and after treatment with 5-15% w/w CFHE ointments for 14 days. Absorbances of platelet-rich plasma treated with 0.8-100 mg/mL CFHE and an aggregating agent were spectrophotometrically determined in an in vitro platelet aggregation test. Wound tissue histopathology of CFHE ointment-treated animals revealed angiogenesis, reepithelialization, deposition of collagen, and granular tissue formation in wound tissues. Reduction in thigh oedema and pain threshold, in 7-day-old chicks, were assessed by carrageenan-induced oedema and Randall-Sellito pressure models, respectively. By the Agar diffusion method, bacterial growth inhibition by a 15% w/w CFHE ointment was investigated on Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus. Aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. RESULTS: All concentrations of CFHE ointment significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) wound area by 29-41% posttreatment. CFHE (1.6-100 mg/ml) promoted platelet aggregation (p ≤ 0.0001) by 37-67% (IC50: 3.1-6.2 mg/ml). There were improved wound tissue reepithelization, fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition with 15% CFHE ointment treatment. CFHE ointment significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) and dose-dependently reduced thigh oedema and showed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) analgesic effect. In vitro, 15% CFHE ointment caused >100% growth inhibition of selected bacteria. CONCLUSION: The hydroethanolic leaf extract of Cnestis ferruginea possesses wound healing, platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties and, hence, could be effective in the management of open and some closed wounds.
