<i>In vivo </i>Wound Healing Activity of 70% Ethanol Leaf Extract of <i>Becium grandiflorum </i>Lam. (Lamiaceae) in Mice

Abstract

Becium grandiflorum Lam. (Lamiaceae)is used as a traditional medicine against malaria, “Mich” and for treatment of spider bite that culminates in wound. The present study evaluated the potential wound healing activity of the crude extract of B. grandiflorum using rodent wound models. Hydroalcoholic (70% ethanol) leaf extract of B. grandiflorum was formulated as 5% and 10% ointment and its activity was investigated in excision and incision wound models using simple ointment and nitrofurazone as a negative and positive control, respectively. In addition, histopathological analysis was performed. Parameters, including rate of wound contraction, period of complete epithelialization, and skin tensile strength were evaluated. Both 5% (w/w) and 10% (w/w) extract ointments (p < 0.001) and standard drug nitrofurazone (p < 0.001) significantly reduced wound area compared to the negative control. Similarly, both doses of the extract ointment preparations showed significant increase (p < 0.001) in wound tensile strength in the incision wound model. However, it was only 5% of the extract ointment and the standard that significantly shortened epithelialization time (p < 0.001) compared to controls. These findings collectively indicate that ointments prepared from 70% ethanol leaf extract of B. grandiflorum could facilitate the different phases of wound repair, providing support for the traditional claims of the plant in the treatment of wound.

Keywords: wound healing, excision model, incision model, Becium grandiflorum, hydroalcoholic extract