title: Double incision wound healing bioassay using Hamelia patens from El Salvador.
abstract: Hamelia patens Jacq. (Rubiaceae) has received little attention in the laboratory for its wound healing ability even though it is commonly used as a treatment for wounds throughout Central America. A double incision wound healing bioassay was carried out with a crude extract of Hamelia patens collected from El Salvador. Animals were divided into three groups. Group I (n = 14) had the left incision treated with 5% (w/w) Hamelia patens and the contralateral side with petroleum jelly (PJ). Group II (n = 14) had the left incision treated with 10% (w/w) ointment and the contralateral side with petroleum jelly. Group III (n = 10) had the left incision treated with petroleum jelly and the contralateral side left untreated. Breaking strength of the incisions was measured on day 7 and day 12. For Groups I and II, there was no significant difference between treatment and control incisions at day 7. On day 12, there was a significant difference between the treated and control incisions for Groups I and II. There was no significant difference between petroleum jelly and untreated incisions for Group III on day 7 and day 12. Hamelia patens does increase breaking strength of wounds significantly more than the control group. Further wound healing studies of this plant are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Saint Martin's College, 5300 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503, USA. agomezbeloz@stmartin.edu
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomez-Beloz
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rucinski
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Balick
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tipton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004544:El Salvador; D032063:Hamelia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts