Experimental study of the effect of Plantago major leaves extract on contaminated excisional wound healing in rabbits

Abstract EN

The current study was performed to estimate the influence of topical application of 10% of Plantago major leaves extract (PMLE) on a healing process of contaminated excisional wound in local breed rabbits.

Twenty adult local breed male rabbits were used.

After the animals have generally anesthetized, two 2x2 cm full thickness wounds were created in thoracic region on right and left side (1wound/side) for each animal.

Wounds on right side of animal were treated by topical irrigation with normal saline/daily, this consider as control (group A).

While, left side wounds were treated by topical application of 10% PMLE ointment (once/day) that consider as treated (group B) dressing was used after each treatment for both groups.

Wound healing was evaluated through macroscopic examination, wound contraction rate (WCR) assessment and histopathological examination.

Results of macroscopic examination confirmed that PMLE has a role in acceleration healing when compared to control group.

These outcomes were parallel with WCR results in which reflect the mean rate of wound contraction on days 7th, 14th, and 21st in PMLE-treated group was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that of the normal saline treated group.

Histopathological examination results confirmed early increased in new blood vessels formation, fibroblasts proliferation, marked collagen precipitation and early epithelization in group PMLE compared to group A.

This study confirmed that topical application of 10% of PMLE (once/a day) has an effective role in accelerate contaminated wound healing through its phenolic and flavonoid contents as recorded by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assessment that act as antioxidant and anti inflammatory substance which help in the enhancement the WCR through encourage early and additional fibroblast proliferation and angiogenesis when compared to control group.