Wound healing activity of Mangifera indica and Blighia sapida seeds in Wistar rat

The wound healing efficacy of Mangifera indica and Blighia sapida seed extracts on Wistar rats was evaluated in this study. The methanolic extracts of the seeds were prepared and screened for the presence of bioactive compounds following standard methods. The antimicrobial activity of the seed extracts was then evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillius subtilis and Pseudomonas aeroginosa using agar diffusion and broth dilution methods. Wound healing evaluation was carried out on forty two healthy Wistar rats, divided into six groups of seven rats each. The rats were inflicted with excision wound on the dorsal thoracic region and an ointment-extract base with 15 % w/v and 20 % w/v of both seed extracts were prepared and used in treating the wounds. The healing effect of the seed extracts was assessed by determining the rate of wound contraction, epithelialization time and histopathological examination. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, flavonoids, reducing sugar, phenol, steroids, tannins and terpenoids in both seed extracts and all the formulated extract-ointment bases. Antimicrobial activity of M. indica and B. sapida seed extracts showed that they both possess significant antimicrobial property. The seed extracts were more effective than the control ointment in wound healing of the rats hence the use of the two plant seeds for the treatment of wound could be encouraged. Keywords: M. indica; B. sapida; seeds; wound healing; epitheliaation time; histopathology