The Effect of Hydro-Methanol Leaf Extract of Thaumatococcus Daniellii on Excision Wound Healing in Rats

Thaumatococcus daniellii plant has been reported to be used traditionally in the treatment of various diseases. The leaves of the plant are used for treatment of cutaneous wound and the present study aimed to authenticate this claim. Acute toxicity study was carried out to determine the oral median lethal dose (LD50) of T. daniellii leaf extract. Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each. An excision wound area of 356 mm2 was then created on the dorsum of each rat in all groups. Rats in group I served as the negative control and were treated with distilled water (10 ml/kg p.o). Rats in groups II, III and IV were treated with graded doses of the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o). Rats in group V served as the positive control and were treated with Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid; 100 mg/kg p.o). The effects of the extract on wound contractility, period of epithelialization and median wound closure time (WD50) were evaluated. The result showed that the oral median lethal dose (LD50) of T. daniellii leaf extract is greater than 5,000 mg/kg. It also showed a dose-dependent but non-significant decrease in wound area (mm2) in the groups treated with T. daniellii leaf extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o). The dose of 400 mg/kg of the extract was more effective on wound contractility, period of epithelialization and median wound closure time (WC50) compared to other treated groups. These results indicated that Thaumatococcus daniellii hydro-methanol leaf extract may possess wound healing properties. It, therefore, has the potential to be developed as medicine for treatment of wound. Further studies will be carried out using higher doses of the extract and also, to determine its effect on the tensile strength of healed wounds and to determine its mechanism of action.