Wound healing and antioxidant properties of leaf extracts of Zapoteca portoricensis

Author(s): Agbafor K. N.*, Akubugwo E. I., Ukpabi C. F., Elom S. O., Nwachukwu N.

Abstract

Various parts of Zapoteca portoricensis are used in the management/treatment of several disorders in Eastern Nigeria without any scientific basis. This study was set up to evaluate the wound healing and antioxidant potentials of aqueous and ethanol extracts of fresh leaves of Zapoteca portoricensis. Nine groups (A-I) of albino rats (five in each group) were used. Groups A, B. C, and D were treated orally with 100, 200, 400 and 600mg/kg body weight respectively of the aqueous extract, while groups E, F, G and H received the same order of doses of the ethanol extract for seven consecutive days. Group I was the control. Serum levels of total protein, proteinases and vitamin C were used to assess wound healing property, while malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were measured to examine antioxidant activity of the extracts. The total protein concentrations of treated groups were not significantly different (P>0.05) from those of the control. Proteinases activity and vitamin C concentration were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the administered groups than in the untreated group. Activity of SOD, CAT and GR increased significantly (P<0.05), while MDA levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the treated groups relative to the control. These findings are indications that fresh leaves of Zapoteca portoricensis may be useful in the treatment of wounds due to their antioxidant potential.

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