Wound Healing Activities of Latex of Grassleaf Spurge (<i>Euphobia </i><i>g</i><i>raminea</i><i> </i>Jacq.)

Abstract

The present study evaluated the wound healing potentials of E. graminea (EG) latex. The latex of EG was screened for the presence of phytochemical constituents; in vitro antioxidant property and erythrocyte membrane stabilizing activity was used to investigate anti-inflammatory property of the latex. The wound healing potential of E. graminea latex (EGL) was investigated via incision and dead space wound models in wistar rats; eighteen wistar rats (separately for each model) were randomly divided into 3 groups (6 in each group): Group A: wound + EGL ; Group B: wound + Gentamycin (G); Group C: wound without treatment (control). Wound breaking strength (Incision model), hexuronic acid and hexosamine concentrations, activities of antioxidants biomolecules (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione) as well as the levels of free radicals (nitric oxide-NO, malondialdehyde-MDA) were evaluated in the granulation tissue (dead space model) of experimental rats. The result of the study revealed that EGL tested positive for the presence of saponins, alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. Also, EGL contained an appreciable concentration of total flavonoids and phenolics. The latex exhibited mild ferric reducing power, inhibited DPPH in dose dependent manner as well as protected red blood cells against hypotonic and heat induced lyses. In wound incision model, EGL exhibited 13.6 % increase in wound breaking strength when compared to the control animals. Also, in dead space wound model, there was significant increase (p < 0.05) in hexoxamine, hexuronic acid and GSH concentrations as well as SOD activity in EGL and gentamycin treated wound compared to the control. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in MDA concentration in EGL and gentamycin treated wound compared to the control while NO level and catalase activity showed no significant difference. This study revealed that EGL contained potentially bioactive molecules that could be employed in the treatment of wound.