Wound Healing Potentials of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Mangifera indica L. in Wistar Rats

Aim of the Study: Since scientifically proven investigations on wound healing has not been adequately carried out on Mangifera indica leaves, the present work was therefore conducted to evaluate the wound healing potentials of aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera indica in Wistar rats.

Study Design: Animal study model of wound healing.

Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria. Between October 2015 to June 2016.

Materials and Methods: Twenty four Wistar rats weighing between 160 -200 g were used. The rat were grouped into 4 groups with 6 rats in each group. Group 1 rats had no wound on them .Group 2 rats were treated topically with Normal Saline .Group 3 rats were treated topically with povidone iodine. Group 4 rats were treated topically with aqueous extract of Mangifera indica. In all the animals, the wound was induced using a scalpel blade.

The animals after 21 days of treatment were sacrificed and their blood samples, tissue (skin) were collected, processed and examined for haematological and histological analysis.

Results: The results showed that aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera indica (M. indica) decreased thrombin time, clotting time and bleeding time. However, wound contraction was significantly higher in experimental animals treated with aqueous leaf extract of M. indica when compared to control, Normal Saline (NS) and standard povidone iodine. These findings were further confirmed by histological examination of granulation tissue with a lesser number of chronic inflammatory cells, decreased oedema and increased collagenation in the rats treated with M. indica than the control.

Conclusion: Therefore, Mangifera indica leaves seem to be promising in haemostasis and wound healing.