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eCAM Advance Access published online on October 13, 2009
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep160
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© The Author(s) 2009. Published by Oxford University Press.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Experimental Evaluation of Ethanolic Extract of Carapa guianensis L. Leaf for Its Wound Healing Activity Using Three Wound Models

B. Shivananda Nayak1, Joel Kanhai1, David Malcolm Milne1, Lexley Pinto Pereira2 and William H. Swanston3

1Department of Pre Clinical Sciences, 2Department of Para Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and 3Diagnostic Laboratory Services, North Central Regional Health Authority, Trinidad and Tobago

The leaves of Carapa guianensis have been used to treat ulcers, skin parasites, and skin problems. The ethanolic extract of C. guianensis leaf was evaluated for its antibacterial and wound healing activity using excision, incision and dead space wound models in rats. The animals were randomly divided into two groups (n = 6) in all the models. In the excision wound model test group animals were treated topically with the leaf extract (250 mg kg–1 body weight) whereas, control animals were treated with petroleum jelly. In the incision and dead space wound models, the test group animals were treated with extract (250 mg kg–1 day–1) orally by mixing in drinking water and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, skin breaking strength, granulation tissue weight and hydoxyproline content. On Day 15 extract-treated animals exhibited 100% reduction in the wound area when compared to controls (95%) with significant decrease in the epithelialization period. The extract failed to demonstrate antibacterial activity. Skin breaking strength (P < 0.001), wet (P < 0.002) and dry (P < 0.02) granulation tissue and hydroxyproline content (P < 0.03) were significantly higher in extract treated animals. The increased rate of wound contraction, skin breaking strength and hydroxyproline content supports potential application of C. guianensis in wound healing.

Keywords: epithelialization – hydroxyproline – wound healing

For reprints and all correspondence: B. Shivananda Nayak, The University of West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Biochemistry Unit, EWMSC, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago. Tel/Fax: 868-6621873; E-mail: shiv25{at}gmail.com

Received January 26, 2009; accepted September 13, 2009


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