Evaluation of Wound-Healing Activity of Securidaca longepedunculata Root Extract in Male Wistar Rats

Wound-healing is a complex series of well-coordinated cellular and biochemical happenings that reinstates the skin's integrity. Medicinal herbs offer a promising alternative than synthetic medications for wound-healing because they have fewer adverse effects. This present study aims to evaluate wound-healing potential of methanol extract of S. longepedunculata root (MESLR) in male rats. Some biological activities as well as phytochemical analysis were also carried out to elucidate the rationale of its wound-healing potency. Alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids were found to be present amongst others with the saponin content being the chief [(22.80 +/- 0.87) g/100 g]. MESLR had a greater potential inhibiting the DPPH radicals at IC50 of 5.5 mu g/ml and % free radical inhibition of 86.03 % as well as the highest inhibiting potential 54.34 % in the anti-inflammatory study. 100 % wound closure (p< 0.05) was observed with 2.0 g/10 g MESLR based-ointment as against the negative control group before the 21(st) day while the subsequent groups and the standard treatment showed complete closure on the last day of the experiment. The histological examination showed more collagen formation, less inflammatory cell, increased fibroblast distribution, and keratin synthesis in all the groups except for the negative control group, which on the 21(st) day of the study demonstrated epithelial necrosis and severe epidermal deterioration. The foundational information presented from this study suggests the efficacy of S. longepedunculata for topical management and treatment of wounds in traditional medicine and this report is the earliest study of the use of S. longepedunculata root for wound-healing.