Investigation into the Wound Healing Activity of Monodora myristica and Monodora tenuifolia Seed Extracts in Albino Rats

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Monodora myristica and Monodora tenuifolia are among the plants that are been used by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria. They have been used extensively for the treatment of various ailments. The parts of these plants have some medicinal values and are being used in different regions of Nigeria for wound healing, but the scientific proof of wound healing activity of these plant parts and plant seeds are lacking, hence, this is a necessary to have a validate record of the medicinal uses of M. myristica and M. tenuifolia seeds to expand their use to include integration into modern medical healthcare systems. In this study an attempt was made to validate the ethno-medicinal uses of M. myristica and M. tenuifolia seeds through botanical identification and biological assessment of their value as complementary medicine for treatment of wound in rats.

Materials and Methods: Phytochemical analysis was carried out to known the various phytoconstituents in the extracts of M. myritica and M. tenuifolia seeds. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were examined on multiple drug resistant bacteria viz: S. aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeroginosa and fungi viz: C. albicans, A. niger using agar the technique of well diffusion and method of broth dilution. The wound healing effect of seeds of M. myristica and M. tenuifolia were studied by incorporating the extracts into paraffin in concentrations of 5% and 10% w/w. Wound healing activities of the extracts were studied by determining the wound area (mm2), percentage of wound closure, period of epithelialisation and histological analysis of the control and test groups.

Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, reducing sugar, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids in M. myristica seed extract while tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids were detected in that of M. tenuifolia. The extract of M. myristica seeds showed significant activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis having the same MIC value of 50 mg/ml, P. aeroginosa and A. niger with MIC value of 100 mg/ml, E. coli and C. albican having an MIC value of 200 mg/ml while MIC value of 50 mg/ml was recorded for E. coli, A. niger and P. aeroginosa, 100 mg/ml for S. aureus and 200 mg/ml for B. subtilis and C. albican using M. tenuifolia seed extract. A profound wound healing effect was noticed for M. tenuifolia seed extract. This is confirmed that the seed extract of M. tenuifolia has a better wound healing capacity than that of M. myristica as it was revealed from the experimental values of the wound closure area, improved tissue regeneration at the wound site observed through the daily monitoring and histopathological parameters related to the healing of the wound.

Conclusion: The results affirmed the ethnomedicinal application of M. myristica and M. tenuifolia seeds for wound healing.