Anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of methanol leaf extract of Physalis angulata L.

Abstract

The leaf of Physalis angulata L. is widely used in Ghana by rural and urban dwellers for the treatment of wounds. This study sought to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of methanol leaf extract of Physalis angulata L. (PAL). Preliminary phytochemical screening was used to determine the phytochemical constituents in this plant material. Anti-inflammatory activity of extract concentrations at doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight of the rats, were determined by carrageenan-induced foot oedema model in rats. The wound healing activity was studied using the excision wound model in rats with concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10% w/w. The progression and microscopic bedding of wound healing was determined by the periodic assessment of the contraction of excision wounds and histological studies. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the PAL and its pulverized leaves revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, reducing sugars, anthracenosides and carbohydrates in the extracts. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract at 100 and 300 mg/kg caused a significant (p<0.001) decrease in paw thickness when administered both therapeutically and prophylactically. The PAL formulated into cream (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10% w/w) showed significant (p<0.001) increase in the rate of wound contraction from day 3 to 15 after injury with increased fibroblast proliferation and collagenation as well as re-epithelialisation compared with the untreated wounds. The methanol leaf extract of P. angulata possesses anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity which may justify the medicinal uses of this plant in the treatment of wounds.