Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats

Abstract Background Species in genus Vernonia (Asteraceae) are traditionally used in the management of different ailments for instance the leaves in both fresh and dry forms have been used in dressing wounds. Anecdotal reports show that ash of Vernonia amygdalina (V. amygdalina) has been utilised in the treatment of wounds, however there are no scientific reports to substantiate this claim. Thus, the present study focused on comparing the wound-healing activity of its leaf and leaf ash extracts. Methods In this study, the wound healing activity of V. amygdalina leaf was carried out in Wistar Albino rats in an excision wound model using its aqueous extract (AE), and leaf ash (LA) at concentrations of 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v). Mupirocin ointment and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. The wound diameter was measured every 3 days from day 1 to day 22 and the results were used to calculate the percentage of wound reduction in all groups. Results Significant wound healing activity was observed in all groups except 3% (w/v) AE, against the negative control group (p<0.05). Group 2 (1% AE), group 5 (1% LA), and group 6 (2% LA) showed faster wound healing than the positive control (p<0.05). Leaf ash was shown to have the best wound healing activity, and its lower concentrations worked better than the category of the same concentrations in aqueous extracts. Conclusions Our findings have for the first time confirmed the traditional claim of using V. amygdalina ash in the treatment of topical wounds.