In vivo wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of Terminalia catappa L. leaves in mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

The leaves of Indian almond (Terminalia catappa L.) is known as a folk medicine. However, the leaves has not been explored scientifically for its wound healing activity. Therefore, current research was designed to evaluate the wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of both green (GL) and brown (BL) Indian almond leaves in mice (Mus musculus). Incision wounds was inflicted on mice under chloroform anesthesia. Group C served as control without treatment, while group V treated with vaseline. Group Pi was positive control and treated with povidone iodine, group GL20, GL40, and GL 60 treated with simple ointment containing 20, 40 and 60% (w/w) ethanol extract of the GL, whereas group BL20, BL 40, and BL60 used BL with the same concentration. All the mouse were treated topically once a day. Wound healing potential was assessed with the percentage of the wound healing until day 16. The results found that, all groups of mice treated with ethanol extract of either GL or BL higher than 20% showed significantly wound healing activity compared to group of mice treated with simple ointment group, Pi, or control. The present study provides a scientific rationale for the use of the leaves extracts of T. catappa in the treatment of wound.