Epidermal wound healing potentials of methanolic extract of Tetracapidium conophorum leaf on the limb of West African Dwarf goat

Abstract

A wound is a disruption to the anatomic structure and the functional continuity of living tissues and wound healing is a survival mechanism and represents an attempt to maintain the normal structure and function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the healing properties of methanol extract of Tetracapidium conophorum leaf on epidermal wound in West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Eight adult West African Dwarf (12 to 15 kg) goats grouped into control and experimental of four animals each were used. Epidermal wounds were created on the trunk of all the goats using a square stencil of dimension 1 cm by 1 cm after shaving. Each wound was measured (in centimetre 2 ) daily using the length of the mid-horizontal and mid-vertical sides of the wound with the aid of a Vernier caliper. Epidermal skin biopsies were taken also on days 0, 5, 10 and 20 for histology. The study demonstrated that wound contraction was much faster in treated groups compared with the control group indicating the wound healing properties of T. conophorum leaf extract. The quantification of macrophages and neutrophils in the control animals (88 ± 0.4, 172 ± 4.8) were significantly higher than in the treated animals (40 ± 0.7*, 48 ± 2.8*). Lymphocytes and fibroblast were significantly higher in the control animals (68 ± 0.5, 24 ± 0.41) than the treated animals (36 ± 0.7*, 12 ± 1.12*). The histopathological examination showed observable granulation tissue on day 20 in the treated group while no granulation tissue in the control group. The quantification results revealed an increased fibroblast, neutrophil in the treated group as compared to untreated group which indicated healing. The extract of the leaf showed remarkable wound healing activity and it may be used for treating various types of wounds and injuries in animals and humans.