Wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of roots of Morinda pubescens J.E. Smith

Abstract

In folklore medicine, Morinda pubescens has been used as a wound healing agent for many years; however, there have been few scientific reports on this activity so far. The ethanolic extracts of roots of Morinda pubescens at different concentrations were evaluated for their wound healing activities in mice using excision wound model. The effects of test samples on the rate of wound healing were assessed by the rate of wound closure, period of epithelization. Povidone Iodine 10% w/w ointment was used as reference standard for the activity comparison. The results of the study revealed that the animals treated with different concentrations (10% w/w, 20% w/w) of ethanolic extracts of roots of Morinda pubescens showed faster rate of wound healing activity. The extract treated animals exhibit reduction in wound area when compared to controls. The extract treated wounds are found to epithelize faster as compared to controls.