Effect of 28% Concentration of Ethanolic Extract of Trichosanthes Cucumerina (Snake Tomato) Fruit on Wound Healing using Male Wistar Rats

In this study the wound healing property of 28% concentration of ethanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit was determined by considering its effect on gross wound morphometry, histological analysis of the granulation tissue (with respect to neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblast and blood vessel estimation). 28% concentration of ethanolic extract of T. cucumerina fruit was prepared by adding100ml of absolute ethanol to every 28g of blended T. cucumerina fruit and then allowed to ferment in an air tight container in a period of three days. The o o mixture was filtered and the filtrate heated using a water bath at a temperature range of 40 c-50 c until a dark brownish paste-likesubstance (extract) was obtained. Prior to its topical usage, 28g of the extract was added to 100ml of water so as to obtain the 28% concentration of the extract. 24 male wistar rats of two groups; experimental and control (of 12 each) weighing approximately 200g were used in this study. A wound size of 2cm by 2cm which exposed the panniculusadiposus was inflicted on the dorsal-lateral shaved aspect of the thorax after anaesthesia. The wound sizes were immediately measured using a 4cm by 4cm square template transparent sheet which was subsequently placed on a graph sheet for wound morphometry. The experimental and control groups were dressed using 28% concentration of the extract and distilled water respectively. The % mean wound contraction on day 3, 6, 9, and 12 for the control group were 10.28 ± 5.58, 37.74 ± 7.30, 56.01 ±8.99 and 70.74 ± 9.93 respectively. While for the experimental group on the same days were 28.42 ± 11.37, 61.03 ± 12.86, 83.64 ± 12.28 and 95.27 ± 5.04 respectively. The two groups at these respective days were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean day for complete wound closure for both the control and experimental groups were 18.75 ± 2.87 and 14.25 ± 1.50 respectively, and this was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). On day 3and 9, the granulation tissue was excised and the histological analysis revealed generally, more neutrophils and macrophages than fibroblast and blood vessels at day 3 and vice versa at day 9. Comparing the experimental and control groups on these days revealed more neutrophils in the control as against the experimental group, more macrophages in experimental than in control groups (vice versa at day 9),more fibroblast in experimental than in control groups, and more blood vessels in experimental than in control groups. This study showed Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit to accelerate wound closure (healing) to a reasonable statistical significance which could be attributed to its phytochemical constituent especially lycopene which is described to be a powerful anti-oxidant.

Key Words: Trichosanthes cucumerina, Wound healing and Fibroblast