Evaluation of Wound Healing Activity of 80% Methanol Leaf Extract of Vernonia leopoldi (Sch. Bip. Ex Walp.) Vatke (Asteraceae) in Mice

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Date

2019-05

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Addis Abeba University

Abstract

Vernonia leopoldi (Sch. Bip. Ex Walp.) Vatke locally known as “Nechilo” is a shrub that is endemic to Ethiopia. Traditionally, it is used for the treatment of wounds. However, there is no scientific evidence that justifies the traditional claims. Thus, the present study assessed the wound healing potential of 80% methanol leaf extract of V. leopoldi in mice. Extraction of the leaf was carried out by maceration using 80% methanol. The extract was studied for wound healing activity by formulating a topical ointment using two concentrations (5% and 10% w/w). Simple ointment base (negative control) and nitrofurazone 0.2% (w/w) ointment (positive control) were used for comparison of wound healing activity in mice. Two wound models were used i.e. excision and incision. For anti-inflammatory study, carrageenaninduced hind paw edema model was used. The extract of V. leopoldi was given orally at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The anti-bacterial activity of the extract was determined using disk diffusion technique against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria that are associated with wound at a concentration of 50-500 µg/µl. Treatment of wound with ointment containing 5% and 10% (w/w) extract exhibited significantly increased (p<0.05) wound contraction rate, shorter epithelialization time, and higher skin breaking strength as well as increased collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation and vascularization as evidenced by histopathological analysis. The 10% (w/w) extract ointment showed better wound healing activity than the 5% (w/w) ointment and its effect was comparable to that of nitofurazone. V. leopoldi extract also produced dose-related significant reductions (p<0.01-0.001) of inflammation as compared to the control. The extract also displayed better antibacterial activity on gram positive than gram negative organisms. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the 80% methanol extract of V. leopoldi is endowed with wound healing activity most probably via its anti-inflammatory and, anti-bacterial activity as well as collagen deposition, supporting the traditional use of this plant as wound healing agent.

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Keywords

V. leopoldi, Excision model, Incision model, Anti-inflammatory. Anti-bacterial, Histopathological analysis, Wound healing activity.

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