Keywords
wound healing
burn injury
hydroalcoholic extract
silver sulfadiazine
phytotherapy
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction
Mirabilis jalapa L. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in wound treatment across various global regions. While its wound-healing potential has primarily been documented using leaf extracts, the therapeutic efficacy of seed extracts on burn wound models remains uninvestigated.
Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate and compare the burn wound-healing properties of hydroalcoholic extracts derived from M. jalapa leaves and seeds in rabbits.
Methods
Leaf and seed powders were macerated in 70% v/v ethanol. The resulting dry extracts were formulated into petrolatum-based ointments at 10% w/w concentration. Four standardized thermal burn wounds (2 cm diameter) were induced on the dorsum of eight adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, 1.5--2.5 kg), allowing each animal to serve as its own internal control across four concurrent treatment sites: Group A (leaf extract ointment, 10%), Group B (seed extract ointment, 10%), Group C (negative control: white petrolatum jelly), and Group D (positive control: 1% silver sulfadiazine; Flammazine®). Topical applications were performed daily for 14 days.
Results
Extraction yields were 20.10% for leaves and 14.70% for seeds. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, saponins, steroids, and tannins in both extracts, with terpenoids present exclusively in the leaves. By Day 14, complete wound closure (100.00% ± 0.00%) was achieved in Groups A, B, and D, demonstrating regular, smooth re-epithelialized tissue and dense hair regrowth. In contrast, the negative control group (Group C) achieved a significantly lower wound contraction rate (83.38% ± 0.15%, p < 0.001), with persistent eschar formation. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post-hoc analysis confirmed that both leaf and seed extracts significantly accelerated wound contraction relative to the negative control (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Hydroalcoholic extracts of M. jalapa leaves and seeds accelerate wound contraction and tissue repair in experimental burns, validating the plant’s traditional ethnomedicinal use and demonstrating its potential as an effective natural wound-healing agent.
References
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