Phytochemical constituents and wound healing properties of ointment formulations of Ocimum gratissimum crude aqueous leaf extracts

Abstract

There is need for safe, acceptable and cost-effective wound healing remedies. In this work, the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum and its wound healing properties were evaluated using the excision wound healing model. The leaves were air-dried and extracted with Soxhlet extractor. Phytochemical constituents of the crude extract were evaluated. The extract was used to formulate simple ointments containing 1 and 2 % w/w of the extract. Male albino rats weighing 65 – 180 g were divided into 4 groups, shaved, inflicted with circular wounds of 2 mm diameter and treated with the ointment formulations. Animals in Group I were treated with the formulation containing 1% of extract, animals in Group 2 with ointments containing 2 % of extract, animals in Groups 3 with a bland ointment and animals in Group 4 with Cicatrin powder (a standard wound healing agent. Groups 3 and 4 animals served as controls. Wound healing degree was determined by the size of the wound over a period of 21 days. The extract contain alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and resins but not saponin. Concentration- independent, timedependent wound healings were observed in the animals treated with the ointment formulations containing Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract, superior to those observed in animals treated with the blank ointment and Cicatrin^® powder. The aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum can be formulated into ointments for use in wound treatments.

Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum, wound healing, aqueous extract, excision wound model