Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Activities of the 80% Methanol Fruit Extracts Of Dovyalis Abyssinica A. Rich. in Mice
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Date
2011-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Dovyalis abyssinica locally known as “Koshim” is traditionally used to treat conditions such as
hemorrhoids, ulcers and swelling of the throat. The toothbrush sticks are also reported to be used
for oral hygiene. There is also a traditional claim that the fruits of D. abyssinica promote wound
healing. However, there is no scientific evidence that justifies the traditional claims and therefore
the present study was aimed at evaluating the wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects of the
fruits wound healing mice models.
In this study, the fruits of D. abyssinica were evaluated by formulating the 80% methanol fruit
extracts in simple ointment base in strengths of 5% and 10% for topical applications for excision
as well as incision wound models. Extract solutions in saline in strengths of 100 mg, 200 mg and
400 mg/Kg body weight doses were also prepared and used for oral administration for antiinflammatory
activity tests. From the excision wound model, rate of wound contraction,
epithelization period and hydroxyproline content were determined. From the incision wound
model, tensile strength of the healing wound was evaluated. For the evaluation of the antiinflammatory
activity, carrageenen-induced hind paw edema model was employed and increase
in paw size and % inhibition of edema were determined.
The 80% methanol fruit extracts exhibited a significant wound healing activity in both strengths
compared with control as evidenced by an increase in % wound contraction (p < 0.001), a
decrease in epithelization period (p < 0.001), and an increase in hydroxyproline content (p <
0.001) in excision wound model. In the same model, the 10% extract ointment resulted in a
significant wound contraction at days 8, 12 and 16 and hydroxyproline content compared against
both standard and 5% extract ointment (p < 0.01). In the incision wound model, both 5% and
10% extract ointments resulted in a significant increase in tensile strength compared with control
(p < 0.001). The same extract also exhibited a significant anti-inflammatory effect compared
with control particularly 3 to 5 h after extract administration as shown by a decrease in edema
expressed as % reduction of edema. At the 3rd h, both 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight doses
exhibited a higher effect compared against control (p < 0.001) while the 100 mg/kg extract dose
resulted in a comparable effect compared with same (p < 0.01). At the 4th and 5th h, all the extract
doses exhibited a significant effect compared with control (p < 0.001). It was also shown that the
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400 mg/kg extract dose exhibited a significant effect compared with the 100 mg/kg extract dose
(p < 0.05 at the 3rd and 5th h and p < 0.01 at the 4th h).
The 80% extract of the fruits of Dovyalis abyssinica, therefore, proves to support healing of
wounds as the traditional claims as evidenced by an increase in wound contraction,
hydroxyproline content and tensile strength and a decrease in epithelization period compared
with control results. It also possesses a significant anti-inflammatory effect as shown by a
significant decrease in edema compared with control results supporting the wound healing effect.
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Keywords
Anti-Inflammatory ; Dovyalis Abyssinica