Evaluation of wound healing potential of methanolic Crinum jagus bulb extract

OBJECTIVE Crinum jagus (J. Thomps.) Dandy commonly called Harmattan or St. Christopher's lily belonging to the family Liliaceae is widely used traditionally in Southeastern Nigeria for treatment of skin sores. This study investigated the wound healing potentials of methanolic C. jagus bulb extract (MCJBE) using incision, excision, and dead space wound healing models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, saponins in the extract, but absence of flavonoids. In the incision and dead space wound models, rats were dosed orally with 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) of 10 and 5% of MCJBE solution, respectively, while in the excision wound model, rats were treated topically with 10 and 5% MCJBE ointments (MCJBEO), respectively. RESULT The 10% MCJBE gave significantly (P < 0.05) highest percentage rate of wound contraction, shortest re-epithelialization and complete healing time when compared with 5% MCJBE and reference drug, framycetin sulfate. The extract of C. jagus showed significant (P < 0.05) concentration-dependent wound healing activity in incision, dead space and excision wound models. No contaminating microbial organism was isolated from wound sites of the rats dosed and treated with MCJBE throughout the study period. At day 7, post infliction of excision wound, histomorphological, and histochemical studies revealed more fibroblasts and Type 1 collagen deposits in wound site sections of rats treated with both 10 and 5% MCJBEO while those of the control showed more inflammatory cells and fewer Type 1 collagen deposits. At day 14 post infliction of excision wound, more epithelial regeneration with overlying keratin were seen in the histological sections of wounds of rats treated with both 10 and 5% MCJBEO, while histochemical study showed more Type 1 collagen deposits in wound site sections of rats in 10% MCJBEO treated group. CONCLUSION This study established that methanolic C. jagus bulb extract potentiates wound healing. The study thus validated the folkloric use of C. jagus bulb in the management of skin sores and boils.