Anti-oxidant and Wound Healing Potentials of Gnetum africanum Welw and Ficus vogelii Miq Extracts

Background: Gnetum africanum and Ficus vogelii are vegetables consumed in some parts of Africa. They are used in ethno medicine for treatment of different diseases, and are particularly known to hasten wound healing. The study aimed at investigating the wound healing properties of the plants in a rat model.

Materials and Methods: The powdered leaves of the two plants were successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. The crude methanol extract was screened for secondary metabolites and anti-oxidant properties. The wound healing activity was evaluated using excision wound model. Thirty healthy female Wistar albino rats (150-200 kg) were used for the experiment and randomized into 5% extract + ointment, 3.5% extract + ointment, simple ointment, and gentamicin treatment groups. The ointments were administered topically daily, and wound contraction was measured every alternate day. The percentage wound closure rate and histopathology of healed wound area were determined. The antioxidant activity of the plants was determined using the DPPH scavenging activity and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP).

Results: The methanol extracts of both plants showed the presence tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and steroids in varying amounts. The antioxidant assays revealed that the extracts of both plants had good anti-oxidant properties. Extracts of Gnetum africanum at 3.5% w/w and Ficus vogelii 5% w/w exhibited potent healing activity, eliciting 100% wound closure by day 7.

Conclusion: The study revealed that Gnetum africanum and Ficus vogelii have wound healing properties which scientifically justifies its use for treatment of wounds traditionally and could be developed into useful drugs for wound treatment and management.