Efficacy of <i>Parkia biglobosa</i> Stem Bark in the Treatment of Burn Wounds

Abstract

Burns are a major health challenge all over the world. Among the Hausa and Fulani people of Nigeria the bark of Pakia biglobosa is used as folk medicine for treating wounds by the application of the finely powdered bark to the open wounds. The aim of this study is to corroborate the folk claims of the wound healing ability of P. biglobosa and the benefits of formulating it into an emulgel. The powder and the extract of the stem bark of P. biglobosa formulated as an emulgel were investigated for burn wound healing activities and compared with I% silver sulfadiazine cream (Dermazin®) on Wister Albino rats. Also, the skin irritation and physicochemical properties of the emulgel were determined. Herbal emulgel showed good quality in relation to compendia and non-compendia tests. The emulgels were smooth, none gritty to touch and odourless as well as having varying colour shades of reddish brown consistent with the concentration of the extract. The formulations also showed no skin irritation and a concentration dependent wound healing activity. The emulgel containing 2.5% w/w of the herbal extract showed superior burn wound healing relative to the finely powdered stem bark, while the emulgel containing 5% w/w of the extract showed wound healing activity comparable to Dermazin®. The finely powdered stem bark of P. biglobosa showed effective wound healing activities and the emulgel formulation enhanced the wound healing activity. The results thus, corroborates the folk use of P. biglobosa stem bark for treating burn wounds.