HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND WOUND HEALING PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF FICUS PLATYPHYLLA Del. Holl (MORACEA)

HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND WOUND HEALING PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF FICUS PLATYPHYLLA Del. Holl (MORACEA)

ABSTRACT

Ficus platyphylla (Fp) is a medicinal plant that is widely used in Northern part of Nigeria for the management of skin problems such as eczema and topical application of its gum (latex) to wounds. It is also used for treating malaria and psychosis. Its antioxidant, hepatoprotective and wound healing properties have been evaluated in wistar rats. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the methanolic stem bark extract of Fp was carried out using standard methods. The intraperitoneal and oral acute median lethal dose (LD50) study of the methanolic stem bark extract of Fp was carried out using Lorke‟s method. Using spectrophotometric method the in vitro assay of 2, 2 DPPH with in vivo assay of Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) were used for the antioxidant screening. The effects of methanolic stem bark extract of Fp on carbon tetra chloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in rats were evaluated using the assay of liver enzymes (Alanine aminotransaminases, ALT, Aspartate amino-transaminases, AST and Alkaline phosphatase, ALP) and histopathological studies of the liver. Excision wound healing model as described by Nayak et al., (2007) was used where excision wound measuring 1cm in diameter was created at the dorsal area of 30 wistar rats of both sex randomly divided into 6groups of 5 rats each. The animals in the same groups were also divided into different cages after excision so as to prevent cannibalism. Cream of methanolic stem bark extract of Fp was formulated in 1 %, 5 % and 10 % and applied topically with the base cream to the wounded area for 6 consecutive days and the area measured at 3 days interval for 11 days. Antimicrobial screening, zone of inhibition, minimum inhibition and minimum bacteriocidal concentrations of methanolic stem bark extract of Fp was vii evaluated compared with Dermazin cream using agar and micro dilution methods. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of carbohydrate, saponin, tannin, flavanoids, triterpenes and alkaloid with absence of anthraquinones. The median lethal doses (LD50) in rats were found to be above 5000 mg/kg body weight orally and intra-peritoneally. The oxidative assay analysis showed significant decrease (p < 0.001) to prove its antioxidant activities. Also the liver enzyme analysis showed significant decrease respectively (p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) with the histopathological study proved the hepatoprotective properties of methanolic stem bark extract of Fp and the protection was dose- dependent. The antimicrobial susceptibility results showed that the stem bark extract of Ficus platyphylla was effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Salmonella typhi with zone of inhibitions of 22, 24, 20, 27 and 20 (mm) respectively. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) were 3.75 to 15 mg/L and minimum bacteriocidal concentrations (MBC) were 3.75 to 60 mg/L. Topical application of methanolic stem bark extract of F. platyphylla cream showed an overall significant decrease (p < 0.001) in wound measurement for 11 days possibly due to increased in wound retraction and reduction in the epithelization period. In conclusion these findings suggest that methanolic stem bark extract of F. platyphylla possess antioxidant properties, variable degree of hepatoprotection with strong wound healing effects that justify the ethno medicinal use of the plant in the management of liver disease, skin diseases like eczema and the healing of wound/ulcer when the plant is applied topically on wound.

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