Ultrasonographic Technique Evaluation of Antihypertrophic Scar Activity of M. cavendishii Peel Extract in Newzealand Rabbit Ear Scar Model

Background: Hypertrophic scars are characterized by contin­uous, expansive, slow growth, with spherical shape outward skin, clear margin, progressive expansion, absent skin infiltration and high recurrence rate after injury to the deep dermis. Evaluation of this scar in New Zealand rabbit ear after administration of different doses of Musa cavendeshii peel extracts provide an informative data in monitoring the changes in diameter, length and area using ultrasound scan techniques supported by vancouver scar scale indices. Objective: To establish the use of ultrasound scan techniques in monitoring antihypertrophic scar activity of M. cavendishii peel extracts in rabbits ear scar model. Methodology: Full thickness excisional wound was created to the cartilaginous surface of the ventral region of the rabbit ear marked with blue biro pen of 6 mm in mimic rectangular length of used x-ray film. Vancouver scar scale and high frequency laptop ultrasound (C5® Sonostar, China) was used to evaluate the scar regression for a month in the different doses of the extracts. Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in all the parameters used during the 4 weeks monitoring of the scar. At week one, the result revealed the extract at 5000 mg/kg was able to reduce the hyper-echogenic area of scar (09.48 ± 0.20) as compared to the distilled water group (11.20 ± 0.00). This result shows a statistical reduction of 01.72 mm as noticed by ultrasound monitoring and thread used in Vancouver scar scale. Within the same week of study, the length (12.30 ± 0.20) of the scar was also shown to be reduced by the extract at dose 5000 mg/kg when monitored with the ultrasound and this was the same as the area (0.79 ± 0.03) as compared to the distilled water group. Conclusion: Ultrasound technique was found to be effective in measuring the progress of hypertrophic scar created in rabbit ear scar model after administration of M. cavendishii peel extracts. Key words: Hypertrophic scar, Ultrasound, Musa cavendeshii peel, Rabbit ear