Investigation of the wound healing activity of Carapa guianensis L. (Meliaceae) bark extract in rats using excision, incision, and dead space wound models.

The objective of our study is to investigate the wound healing activity of the bark extract of Carapa guianensis in rats using three different wound models. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of six each in all the models. Test group animals were treated topically with the bark extract (200 mg/kg of body weight), and the controls were treated with petroleum jelly in the excision wound model. In the incision and dead space wound models the test group animals were treated with the extract of C. guianensis (200 mg/kg/day) orally by mixing in drinking water, and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, skin breaking strength, granulation tissue weight, and hydoxyproline content. Antimicrobial activities of the extract against the microorganisms were also assessed. On day 15 extract-treated animals exhibited 99% reduction in the wound area compared to controls (93%). The extract-treated wounds were found to epithelialize faster than controls (P < .02). The skin breaking strength was significantly higher in extract-treated animals compared to controls (P < .001). The weight and hydroxyproline content of granulation tissue were significantly increased compared to controls. These observations support the use of C. guianensis is in the management of wound healing.