Abstract:
In recent times the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the tropics is increasing rapidly with its major complication (wound) being the main cause of death. There is need therefore to carryout researches geared towards discovering other topical medicaments from natural source that could be used to treat diabetic wounds. This will to a great extent reduce the risk of amputation and death in people living with diabetes. The aim of the study therefore is to determine wound healing property of Bryophyllumpinnatum leaf in diabetic rats and its wound healing effect when combined with the already available antibiotics Cicatrin (neomycin and bacitracin) for treating wound. The leaf of Bryophyllumpinnatum was collected, sun-dried and pulverised. The pulverised leaf was then divided into two equal parts. Each part was extracted (using soxhlet extractor) using ethanol and water as solvents. The wound healing activity of the leaf of Bryophyllumpinnatum was evaluated using excision wound model. This work investigated the healing process on excision wounds in the skin of diabetic rats, treated with 8% ethanol extract, 8% aqeous extract, 8% mixed ethanol and cicatrin ointments. Effects of the extracts were compared to that of a standard antibiotic, cicatrin and two negative controls (one that is diabetic and treated with paraffin base and another that is non diabetic and also treated with paraffin base) The wound healing process was monitored over a period of 12 days. Results showed that the extracts significantly increased the rate of wound contraction (at p < 0.05) with that of the mixed ethanol extract and cicatrin giving the highest wound contraction and the effect of the combination greater than the individual effects. The ethanol extract gave a better wound contraction than the aqeous and positive control and the effect of the positive contol was a little higher than the aqeous extract. The non-diabetic control showed increased wound contraction without treatment while the diabetic control showed little or no increase in contraction. Hence it is possible to conclude that the ethanol and aqeous extracts of the leaf of Bryophyllumpinnatum have diabetic wound healing property.
