EVALUATION OF WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF THUNBERGIA LAURIFOLIA EXTRACT IN THE SECOND DEGREE BURN WOUND RATS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the burn wound healing activity of supercritical CO2 Thunbergia laurifolia (TLL) leaf extract in second degree burn wound rats. Male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used and divided into six groups. There were six animals in each group. They were treated topically with 200 mg gel base, 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) gel, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% TLL gel at wound area for 14 days. Evaluation of wound healing activity included an estimation time of wound closure, collagen content, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry analysis of the wound tissue. The results revealed that the percentage of wound closure in 10% TLL gel treated group was higher than those observed in gel base, 1% SSD, 2.5, and 5% TLL gel treated groups. The collagen content which is a marker of tissue regeneration in proliferative phase was also significantly increased in 10% TLL treated group at day 7 and 14 post burning compared to untreated burn group. This result was also confirmed by Masson’s trichrome tissue analysis which increased collagen content in blue color. Reduction in edema, congestion, and inflammatory cells along with increased number of hair follicles, and epithelialization were clearly observed in 10% TLL treated groups. Accelerating of wound healing effect of 10% TLL group was further supported by increasing of angiogenic factor (VEGF) and altering of proangiogenic factor (TNF-α) in accordance with a reduction of COX-2 enzyme. These data clearly illustrated the therapeutic potential of T. laurifolia in treating burn wound.