Wound healing and cytotoxic effects of tannin rich fraction of Psidium guajava L. leaves

In India, the plant Psidium guajava L., also known as the guava, is widely distributed and a member of the Myrtaceae family. The whole plant is used in traditional medicine for various types of inflammation, wound conditions and commonly used as astringent, antiseptic and anthelmintic. Phytochemically, the plant was found to contain rich amount of tannin, a polyphenolic compound. Due to the presence of rich amount of tannin, the plant showed a remarkable wound healing property for any type of wounds. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the cytotoxic and wound healing effects of the tannin-rich fraction using in vitro techniques. The presence of gallic acid in the isolated tannin rich fraction was confirmed by TLC analysis by comparing with standard. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT method and in vitro cell proliferation and wound healing activity was determined by using scratch wound assay technique. The MTT assay result revealed no cytotoxicity because the proportion of cells that survived at the highest concentration (400 mu g/ml) was above 80%. In vitro scratch wound assay in 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell showed that tannin rich fraction at 100 mu g/ml had highest cell proliferation and migration 62.48% after 24 h exposure. As a result, the tannin-rich fraction of P. guajava leaves showed the ability to heal wounds by enhancing fibroblast proliferation and migration, and these results would support the traditional claims of P. guajava as a possible wound healing plant.