Wound healing potential of Tillandsia recurvata and Guaiacum officinale in streptozotocin induced Type 1 Diabetic rats

摘要

One of the major challenges faced by people living with diabetes is the treatment and management of diabetic sores and ulcers. Jamaican Ball Moss (Tillandsia recurvata sp.) and Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum officinale) are indigenous to the West Indian region and have been widely studied and used as ethnomedicinal remedies to treat numerous diseases. The anti-tumor properties of the Ball Moss has been the centre of recent discussions, however, both plants are quite popular among Jamaican folklore medicine as effective anti-inflammatory remedies in the treatment of arthritic and rheumatic conditions. This study evaluated the wound healing potential of Tillandsia recurvata sp. and Guaiacum officinale in an excision wound model of normal and streptozotocin induced type I diabetic rats. Rats were grouped (n=6) with similar weight. Animals were placed into 7 study groups, each with different treatments administered topically. All animals were experimentally wounded on the posterior surface. Normal and diabetic groups were treated with Vaseline (control group), Lignum Vitae and Ball Moss extracts and Neosporin (standard group). Animals treated with Ball Moss showed a reduction by 56 % (normal) and 52 % (diabetic) in wound area while Lignum Vitae resulted in a 47 % (normal rats) and 40.5 % (diabetic rats) reduction. The wound area reduction was significantly higher than that of the control with 32 % and 22 % for normal and diabetic rats respectively. The results obtained indicated that both Ball Moss and Lignum Vitae possess wound healing properties with efficacy similar to that of Neosporin.