In-vitro and in-vivo wound healing properties of two plants from Ghana

Leaves of two plants, namely Caesalpinia benthamiana (Caesalpiniaceae) and Securinega virosa (Euphorbiaceae), traditionally used in the treatment of wounds in Ghana, have been assessed using both in-vitro and in-vivo bioassay techniques. Microbial infections and ROS are known impediments to wound healing [1]. Extracts of these two plants, as well as cassane diterpenes isolated from Caesalpinia benthamiana, demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant activities as well as modulating the activities of some currently used antibiotics against which resistance has developed. The effect of extract ointments obtained from the two plants using 2% nitrofurazone ointment as standard, in both the excision and incision wound model experiments were assessed by measuring parameters including the period of epithelization, wound or scar area, tensile strength and percentage closure of excision wounds. The results of the in vivo wound-healing assay revealed that the test extract ointments at the selected concentration (100mg/500mm2), were capable of producing remarkable wound-healing activity on both wound models. The results also revealed that the measurement of healed area and the hydroxyproline content were in agreement, in that the most active extract (total extract of C. benthamiana), gave the tissue with highest hydroxyproline content of 12.98±1.86mg. This extract had the lowest scar area of 31.85mm2±2.78. These findings thus support the traditional uses of the plants in the treatment of wounds.

Acknowledgements: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK for financial support.

Reference: 1. Houghton, P.J. et al.(2005). J. Ethnopharmacol, 100: 100–107.