Antibacterial and Wound Healing Activities of Topical Gel of Jatropha variegata Vahl Extract in Rats

Background: Jatropha variegata Vahl is a well-known Yemeni medicinal shrub, used traditionally to treat wounds.  Objectives: To investigate the wound-healing and antibacterial properties of the J. variegata extract as a new gel formula.  Methods: The leaves and stems of J.variegata were collected from Ibb Province, Yemen, and extracted by maceration in methanol. To ensure the quality and effectivity of the extract, physicochemical and biological investigations were conducted. Finally, the extract was prepared as a gel dosage form for bacterial and experimental animal studies. Twelve female Albino rats were divided into three groups: each rat was inflicted by three wounds. The first wound was treated thrice a day using the gel containing the J. variegata extract, the second was treated by a gel without the extract, and the third was control. The first, second, and third groups were treated for 5, 10, and 15 days, respectively, with follow-up of the wounds’ diameters. After treatment, the rats were anesthetized before analyzing the anatomy of the rats and the histological examination.  Results: The antibacterial activity of the extract was competent to the positive control against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.05%. Similarly, 100% of the wounds healed within 15 days when treated using the gel containing the J. variegata extract. While just 33% of the control group healed. Conclusion: J. variegata exhibited high antibacterial activity against the targeted strains and remarkable wound healing activity when applied topically on the skin of rats in a gel dosage form. This finding proves an opening for further pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies.