International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) |Volume VIII, Issue I, January 2023|ISSN 2454-6194
Egbunefu, C. O.1, Iyama, W.A.2*, Timothy, M. N.3 and Gbode, L. N.4, Emejuru, W.S.5
1,3,4,5Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Oro-Owo, Rumueme, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: – The study investigated the efficacy of an herbal ointment formulated from Jatropha curcas stem-bark extract for wound healing activity. The ointment batches that were made from different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5g/10g) of Jatropha curcas stem-bark extract were topically applied to the wounds inflicted on thirty (30) albino rats and the rate of wound closure was assessed by the measurement of the wound area. These ointments formulated from Jatropha curcas stem-bark extracts caused a significant (P<0.05) higher level of wound healing in a dose-related manner in the albino rats. The ointment batch containing the highest concentration of the sample extract (1.5g/10g ointment) exhibited the highest rate of wound closure and healing when compared to the blank ointment-treated. The ability of stem-bark extract of Jatropha curcas to wound heal and care indicates that its potential can be properly utilized in the production of commercial ointments for wound care and treatment of skin infections. The dose increase is an added advantage to the healing property of this herbal ointment but preservative potentials remains a challenge. There is also ardent need to apply this formulation on humans as to assess the efficacy.
Keywords: Ointment base, percentage wound closure, gentamycin, Trituration, Medicinal plants.
I. Introduction
The use of trees and shrubs in arid and semi-arid regions is of vital importance for the human population in developing countries. Plants form the main ingredients of medicines in the traditional system of healing and have been the source of inspiration for several major pharmaceutical drugs (Egbunefu, et al., 2022).
The use of the medicinal plant is gaining universal acceptance in view of the tremendous expansion of traditional medicine and growing interest in herbal treatments. Plants are used in medicine to maintain and augment health, physically, mentally and spiritually as well as to treat specific conditions and ailments (Obute, 2005). Medicinal plants are divine gifts to us from Mother Nature who has kept these green remedies in her plant kingdom for mankind to use in fighting death from disease and cure themselves from ailments (Igoli et al., 2005). But, as people moved away from Mother Nature in the name of development, they become more prone to disease, decay and degeneration. Their search for “magic” remedies, resulted in the modern medical system which are characterized by the use of antibiotics, steroids, etc leading to increased resistance and rebound manifestation of the same and new diseases (Egbunefu, et al.,2021; Igbinosa et al.,2009).
By conserving traditional medicinal plants, a country can improve its health sector and reduce poverty (Kamal et al., 2011). Medicinal plants are now in a comeback phase within the last two decades, seeing people shifting their focus back to the forgotten traditional natural green remedies. In the western and developed world, people are returning to herbal drugs. Countries that are endowed with diverse and important medicinal plants can grow these traditional herbs for export to developed countries, earning valuable foreign exchange (Mait et al., 2017). Moreover, as people learn more about the medicinal value of plants it leads to increase awareness and improvement in their health as they are applied (Abdelgadir & Van Staden, 2013; Sharma & Singh, 2012).
In folklore medicine, medicinal plants have been used widely in facilitating the treatment of certain ailments with a high degree of successes (Esimonu et al., 2009). Jatropha Curcas commonly known as a physic nut that belongs to the Eupherbiacea family happens to be one of such plants made available by Mother Nature and is commonly used as an herbal treatment for some ailments by the people of Igboh in Etche ethnic nationality of Rivers State, Nigeria (Egbunefu, et al., 2020). This has inspired much research which are aimed at validating these claims and discovering mechanisms that possibly explains the potentials of this herb in the treatment of these ailments. It is on this premise that this current study on the determination of wound healing activities of a simple ointment base formulated from the stem-bark extract of Jatropha Curcas plant is carried out.