EVALUATION OF WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF HYDROMETHANOLIC CRUDE EXTRACT AND SOLVENT FRACTIONS OFTHE ROOT OFVERBASCUM SINAITICUM BENTH.(Scrophulariaceae)IN MICE

Abstract

Background: The roots ofVerbascumsinaiticumhave been used traditionally for the management of wound in different regions of Ethiopia. Despite the presence of several claims and in vitro studies regarding its role in wound healing, no scientific studies have been conducted so far. Therefore, this study aims to scientifically evaluate the wound healing activities of the crude extract and solvent fractions of the roots of Verbascumsinaiticum in Swiss albino mice. Method: The dried root powder of Verbascumsinaiticum was extracted using 80% methanol by maceration technique. This was thenfractionated with chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. These extracts were formulated as ointment at 5% and 10% concentration by using simple base. Acute dermal toxicity was performed on mice. The wound healing potential was evaluated using excision, incision, and burn wound models. Wound healing was ascertained by measuring the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, tensile strength, and histopathological analyses. Results: The maximum dose of the plant extract (10%) applied to animals was safe at a limit dose of 2000 mg/kg. Phytochemical screening of crude extract and solvent fraction prevails the existence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and terpinoids. In excision wound, 10% and 5% of crude extract ointment provided a significant (P<0.001) percentage of contraction starting from day 4 and day 6 onwards respectively. Moreover, the rate of epithelialization was significantly (P<0.001) improved in 10% crude extract. In burn wound, 10% and 5% crude extract showed significant (P<0.001) wound contraction starting from day 4 and 8 onwards respectively. In both excision and burn wounds, a moderate concentration of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition was observed on the 10% crude extract. The 5% and 10% aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions produced a significant (P<0.001) percentage of wound contraction and shortening of epithelialization at different time points compared to simple ointment. However, the chloroform fraction failed to show any significant wound healing effect compared to simple ointment. Conclusion: The resultsof this study demonstrated that the 80% methanolic crude extract, aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of Verbascumsinaiticum root have wound healing potential which assimilates its traditional use.