Blood Clotting Effect in Vitro and Wound Healing Activity in Vivo of Fresh Juice and Ethanolic Extracts of CROTON MACROSTACHYUS LEAVEA in Male Wistar Albino Rats.

No Thumbnail Available

Date

2012-07

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Background: The plant remedies (both single plant and multi-herbal preparations) are used to promote wound healing since ancient times even if the mechanisms of action, toxicity and efficacy of very few of them have been evaluated scientifically. Preparations from plant sources have been traditionally considered effective to stop bleeding and promote wound healing. Juice extract from leaves of Croton macrostachyus has been traditionally used as a local haemostatic medicine to hasten clotting, however, this effect had not been tested in controlled experiments. Aim: There was no scientific evidence justifying the use of Croton macrostachyus, therefore the present study was aimed at evaluation of platelets aggregating and wound healing activity of the plant. Materials and methods: In the present study the Leaves of Croton macrostachyus were studied for procoagulant and wound healing activity by using ethanolic and fresh juice extract. The procoagulant activity was studied by using the effect of extracts on platelets aggregation. Wound healing activity was studied in excision model in rats, wound contraction, period of epithelization, hydroxyproline estimation and histopathological examinations were studied. Results: Ethanolic extract induced significant (P<0.05) platelets aggregation where as the fresh juice extract did not induce significant platelets aggregation. Platelets aggregation induced by ethanolic extract significantly increased as the time of contact increased (P<0.05). Treatment of wound with ointment containing 10% (w/w) of the ethanolic extract and 10% (w/v) of the fresh juice extract exhibited significant (P < 0.05) wound healing activity. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Croton macrostachyus leaves has procoagulant activity in that it promotes platelets aggregation in vitro that verifies its effect on haemostasis. Moreover, ethanolic extract of the plant leaves promoted wound healing in vivo that could be explained partly by its procoagulant activity and the aqueous juice extract had promoting effect on wound healing that could be explained by the multiple chemical constituents which are of water soluble.

Description

Keywords

Croton macrostachyus, Platelets aggregation, Procoagulant activity, wound healing, Excision, wound, Hydroxyproline.

Citation