Wound-healing and potential anti-keloidal properties of the
latex of calotropis procera (aiton) asclepiadaceae in rabbits
Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2013 Apr 12;10(3):574-9.
Calotropis Procera (CP) has been used in the management of
toothache, fresh skin burns, gum bleeding as well as others to make it qualify
as a medicinal plant. This study was designed to assess its wound-healing
property in rabbits and its potentials for anti keloidal activity.Fresh latex
of Calotropis were obtained and evaluated phytochemically.
Fifteen male rabbits were used and four excisional wounds
were created on each rabbit. The rabbits were divided into five groups of three
each. Group 1 was the negative control and received no treatment. The wounds of
group 2 animals were treated with 2mL of Calotropis latex; group 3 with 2mL
honey; and group 4 with a mixture of 1ml honey and 1 mL of the latex. The
animals in group 5 were given 2mg triamcinolone intramuscularly. All the groups
had their wounds treated daily for 21 days. The wounds' diameters were measured
on the day of wound creation, thereafter on days 7, 14 and 21 post wound
creation. Biopsies of the wounds were taken on days 3 and 21 and viewed
histologically. Phytochemical study of the latex revealed the presence of
glycosides, tannins and alkaloids.
The wounds were found to be significantly (p < 0.05)
reduced in groups treated with 50% latex in honey and triamcinolone,
respectively, on day 7 post wound creation while there was a significant (p <
0.05) reduction in wound surface area in all treated groups on days 14 and 21
post wound creation. Histological findings in untreated group showed thick
bundle of collagen fibres some of which had broad based configurations,
reminiscent of keloid. The group treated with 2mL of Calotropis latex revealed
the presence of florid granulation tissues on day 3 while there was a marked reduction
in quantity and size of collagen fibres on day 21 post wound creation which was
comparable with what was seen for the triamcinolone-treated group.
The general
effect of Calotropis latex on wound-healing was noted. Likewise it's similarity
to that of triamcinolone, an anti-keloidal agent; this makes it a probable
candidate for future anti-keloidal study using a suitable model.
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