Effects of Ficus asperifolia Miq. and Gossypium arboreum L. extracts relevant to wound healing

Traditional people in Ghana use decoction and poultice prepared from Ficus asperifolia Miq. and Gossypium arboreum L. to treat a variety of skin ailments, including wounds. Wound healing process involves several steps, including coagulation, inflammation, formation of granulation tissue and remodelling of connective tissue. Fibroblast cells play an important role in majority of these processes. Other factors, like microbial contamination and presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may affect the healing process.

In this study, in vitro methods were used to assess the fibroblast stimulatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of methanol extracts of the two plant species. Using human dermal fibroblast 142BR, F. asperifolia and G. arboreum extracts (5µg/ml) were found to increase cell proliferation by 31 and 37% respectively compared to the control (0.5% FBS) [1]. The two plant extracts protected 142BR cell line against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage in an in vitro antioxidant assay [1]. At 20µg/ml, F. asperifolia and G. arboreum extracts significantly protected 142BR cell line against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage, giving 47% and 58% survival respectively compared to 0% in cells with no extract. G. arboreum exhibited antibacterial action against both Gram Positive and Gram Negative bacteria with MIC range 128–512µg/ml in a 96-well microtitre dilution assay [2]. F. asperifolia however, showed no antibacterial action.

Our findings lend support to the local use of these plants in wound healing.

Acknowledgement: The Ghana Government for the financial support of KA.

References: [1] Houghton, P.J. et al. (2005) J. Ethnopharm. 100: 100–107. [2] Dickson, R.A. et al. (2006) Phytother. Res. 20: 41–45.