Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Clinical Traditional Medicine and Pharmacology

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Science / School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

82116

Comments

Asante, D., Adokoh, C. K., Ameyaw, E. O., Acheampong, D. O., Afrifa-Yamoah, E., Barnes, P., Agyeah, G., Phillips, R., & Sartori, J. (2025). Evaluation of the wound healing and anti-microbial activity of hydroethanolic extracts of young and old leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Delile. Clinical Traditional Medicine and Pharmacology, 6(2), 200221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctmp.2025.200221

Abstract

Background: Vernonia amygdalina Delile (VA) has been reported as an important herb for the management of wound in traditional medical settings. However, the evaluation of the wound healing and antimicrobial effect of the young and old leaves of VA is lacking. Objective This study sought to determine the cutaneous wound healing and in vitro anti-microbial activities of the young and old leaf extracts of VA. Methods Mineral elements that aid in wound healing and vitamin C levels were evaluated in the young and old leaves of VA. Phytochemical analysis of the hydroethanolic leaf extracts of the young leaves (HEthYL) and the old leaves (HEthOL) of VA was done via HPLC. The antimicrobial activity (zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)) was determined for both HEthYL and HEthOL against selected gram-negative bacilli, namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli. For cutaneous wound healing assessment, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five each and excision wounds created on the dorsal part of their body. Treatment by topical application of ointments produced from hydroethanolic extracts of the young (Osingle bondHEthYL) and the old (Osingle bondHEthOL) leaves was evaluated, together with the positive (PC) and negative (NC) control groups. Histological examination, pro-inflammatory (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine levels post-wounding were determined. Results The amounts of Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and vitamin C were significantly different (P < 0.05) when the young was compared to the old, dried leaves. HPLC analysis revealed similar but wide variability of phytochemical content in both HEthYL and HEthOL. The test isolates were highly susceptible to HEthYL than HEthOL; with HEthYL showing a significantly lower MIC (P < 0.001) than HEthOL. The percentage wound closure for the Osingle bondHEthYL and PC (Penicillin ointments) at day 15 post-wounding was greater (P < 0.05) than in the NC group (treatment naïve). IL-1β and IL-10 levels in the treated groups were significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared to the NC group at the wound sites. Histological evaluation revealed higher tissue regenerative activity of the Osingle bondHEthYL group at wound site compared with the other treated groups. Conclusion The formulated ointments of ethanolic leaf extracts of VA were found to possess a significant wound healing property, particularly the Osingle bondHEthYL exhibited high wound closure compared to the Osingle bondHEthOL. The potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of the young leaves could be a contributing factor to the wound healing efficacy of its ointment.

DOI

10.1016/j.ctmp.2025.200221

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1016/j.ctmp.2025.200221