The wound healing activity of methanol extract of the stem bark of Nauclea latifolia

The aqueous extract of the dried root was investigated to determine its total yield, phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities in groups of Wistar rats. The methanol crude extract and the n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and butanol fraction of the stem bark of Nauclea latifolia were investigated for their phytochemical constituents and wound healing property in rabbits. Bioactive constituents like alkaloids, cardiac glycoside, terpene, saponin, tannins and flavonoids occur in abundance in the crude methanol extract than in other fractions.The % mean wound contraction area in day 24 were 57.88±0.17 (control), 63.04±0.14 ( butanol), 63.88±0.05 (dichloromethane), 69.96±0.07(n-hexane), 74.00±0.08 ( methanol) and 100.00± 0.00 (ethylacetate). A better healing pattern with complete wound closure was observed in rabbits treated with ethylacetate fraction within 24 days while it took 30 to 35 days in control rabbits. There was a significant increase (p≤0.05) in wound contraction from day 4 onwards in all the treated rabbits except those treated with Butanol fraction in day 4. The present study thus provides a scientific rationale for the traditional topical application of the powdered stem bark of Nauclea latifolia on wounds.