Studies on Wound Healing and Antiulcer Activities of Extract of Aerial Parts of Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Problem statement: Phyllanthus niruri is widely used in many parts of the world to manage a wide range of diseases. As part of efforts to elucidate its pharmacological activities and hence medicinal potential, we studied the wound healing and antiulcer properties of extract of the aerial parts using experimentally-created wounds and ulcers in rodents. Approach: Wound healing effect was assessed using excision and dead space wound models while antiulcer activity was evaluated using indomethacin-, ethanol acid- and cold-restraint stress-induced ulcer models. Results: The extract (5,10%) significantly (p<0.05) reduced the wound diameter producing 90.9 and 93.7% wound contraction respectively on day 18 post wounding. It also reduced epithelialization time of excised wounds and increased the rate of wound closure, with WC50 of 8.7%. The extract (400 mg kg^-1) also significantly (p<0.05) increased the weight of granuloma tissue. In antiulcer studies, the extract significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the development of ulcers induced by indomethacin and moderately inhibited ethanol acid-induced ulcer. It was, however, devoid of any such effect in cold-restraint stress-induced lesions at the doses used. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, reducing sugar, carbohydrates and glycosides. Conclusion: These findings indicate that constituents of aerial parts of P. niruri possess wound healing and antiulcer properties.