Evaluation of the wound healing property of Commiphora guidottii Chiov. ex. Guid.
BACKGROUND
The traditional use of the oleo-gum-resin of Commiphora guidottii Chiov. ex. Guid., which is commonly called scented myrrh, for topical treatment of wound is well documented. The major objective of the present study was to investigate the essential oil and resin obtained from C. guidottii for their potential wound healing properties. Due to their influence on the wound healing process, the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of scented myrrh have also been investigated.


METHODS
Powdered oleo-gum-resin of C. guidottii was steam-distilled to obtain essential oil, and the resin was extracted from the marc with MeOH and filtered. The TLC fingerprint profile of the resin has been recorded by using silica gel GF254 as stationary phase. The essential oil components were identified and quantified by GC-MS. Ointments prepared from the essential oil (4% v/w) and the resin (5% w/w) were used for wound healing activity tests. Toxicity of the formulated ointments was investigated according to Draize skin irritation test. Acute anti-inflammatory effect in mice was evaluated using carrageenan induced mouse hind paw oedema model. Antimicrobial activity tests were carried out using disk diffusion and broth dilution techniques against 21 pathogenic bacterial and 4 fungal strains.


RESULTS
Ointment formulations of both the oil and resin were found to be non-irritant at the concentrations used and showed significant (p<0.05-0.001) increase in wound contraction rate, shorter epithelization time and higher skin breaking strength as compared to the negative control. Overall, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the oil and resin were comparable with the standard antibiotics ciprofloxacin and griseofulvin, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm that scented myrrh possesses genuine wound healing activity supporting the traditional use of the plant.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Michael
M
Gebrehiwot
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. kaleab.asres@aau.edu.et.
Kaleab
K
Asres
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Daniel
D
Bisrat
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, 19 Knowledge Park II, Institutional Area, Greater Noida, 201306, India.
Avijit
A
Mazumder
Divison Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, D-06120, Halle, Germany.
Peter
P
Lindemann
Department of Pharmacognosy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Universitaetsplatz 4/1, A-8010, Graz, Austria.
Franz
F
Bucar
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002351:Carrageenan; D029744:Commiphora / Q000737:chemistry*; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009824:Ointments; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053149:Plant Gums; D012116:Resins, Plant; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D009824:Ointments; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums; D012116:Resins, Plant; D013729:Terpenes; D002351:Carrageenan; C014119:myrrh oil