Glycemic and Wound Healing Effects of Aqueous Mesocarp Extract of Unripe Carica papaya (Linn) in Diabetic and Healthy Rats

Abstract

This experimentally-controlled designed study investigated the wound healing and glycemic effects of aqueous mesocarp extract (AME) of unripe Carica papaya (CP) in alloxan-induced diabetic and healthy rats with the rationale of providing cost effective and accessible alternative wound phytotherapy and glycemic control. Five groups (n=6, each) of adult male Wistar albino rats were used in this study which lasted for 21 days: DC group treated with olive oil, DT group treated with AME, NC group treated with olive oil, NT group treated with AME and PC group treated with tincture of iodine. A full thickness excision wound of circular area 300 mm2 and 2mm in-depth was inflicted on all rats after light anesthesia with i.v. ketamine (120mg/kg b.w.) Diabetes was induced with alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg, i.p). The extract was topically applied to the opened wounds at dose of 100 mg kg-1day-1 for 3 weeks. Wound areas were measured on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 using a transparent sheet and a permanent marker. Assessment of wound healing activity was made using percentage area of wound contraction, epithelization period and granulation tissue integrity. Glycemic impact of orally administered dose of 200 and 400mg/kg/day extract was assessed in all experimental groups using glucometer. Results were expressed in mean±SEM and comparison between groups was made using one way ANOVA. P values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Significant (p < 0.05) increase in percentage area of wound contraction was observed in DT (97%) and NT (97%) rats with well organized granulation tissues and remarkable earlier epithelization (day 14) compared with their respective control (DC - 77%; NC - 92%) with delayed epithelization (day 17-21). A significant dose-dependent hypoglycemia was observed in extract treated rats. Unripe carica papaya L. aqueous mesocarp extract induced remarkable hypoglycemic effect with effective wound healing potential in alloxan-induced diabetic and healthy rats.