Abstract

WOUND HEALING POTENTIALS OF LEAF AND BARK EXTRACTS OF DELONIX REGIA

Aloh Godwin Sunday,Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi*,Ezeja M.I.,

ABSTRACT

Water and ethanol extracts of the leaves and bark of Delonix regia were studied foe their effects on wound healing in albino rats.Five groups of rats,A-E, of five rats per group were used.Any group to which leaf or bark ectrac was administered orally also received topical treatments of the leaf or bark extract suspension in olive oil.In group A(given water extract of leaves),the mean percentage reduction in wound diameters after 14 days was 78.77%,while the average levels of total protein,protease,ascorbic acid and zinc were 1.03mg/ml, 1.72ug/100ml, 67mg/dl and 1.00ug/100ml respectively.In group B(that received ethanol extract of leaves),the wound diameters reduced by 78.21%.Other parameters were:total protein (1.02mg/ml), protease (1.76ug/100ml), ascorbic acid (66.50mg/100ml) and zinc (3.05ug/100ml). Group C rats(given water extract of bark) had 80.35% reduction in wound diameter and serum levels of total protein,protease,ascorbic acid and zinc were 1.15mg/ml,1.2ug/100ml,80.13mg/100ml and 1.20ug/100ml respectively. Although wound healing took place in the control rats,it was more rapid in those treated with the extract of Delonix regia.Both the water and ethanol extracts were equally effective in promoting wound healing as their average wound diameters after 14 days differed by only about two percents.

Keywords: Delonix regia,wound healing,total protein,protease,ascorbic acid,zinc,water extract,ethanol extract,bark extract,leaf extract.