title: Evaluation of wound healing and anti-inflammatory activity of the rhizomes of Rumex abyssinicus J. (Polygonaceae) in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rumex abyssinicus Jacq (Polygonaceae) is widely used in Ethiopia for treatment of wound and other diseases. Although reports are available in the literature on some of the claimed activities, nothing has so far been reported about the wound healing activity of R. abyssinicus. Thus, this work was initiated to investigate the wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities of 80% methanol extract of the rhizomes of R. abyssinicus in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following extraction of the rhizomes of the plant with 80% methanol, the extract was formulated as ointment (5% & 10% w/w) with simple ointment base B.P. The ointment was then evaluated for wound healing activity using excision and incision wound models. Parameters, including wound contraction, epithelization time and hydroxyproline content were determined using the excision model, whereas tensile strength was measured from the incision model. In parallel, anti-inflammatory activity of the rhizome was evaluated with carrageenan induced hind paw edema model by dissolving the 80% methanol extract in 1% carboxyl methyl cellulose and administering orally in various doses (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wound treated with 5% and 10% (w/w) hydroalcoholic extract ointment exhibited significant wound healing activity in both models, as evidenced by increased wound contraction, shorter epithelization time, higher tissue breaking strength and increased hydroxyproline content. The hydroalcoholic extract also produced dose-related significant reduction (p < 0.05-0.001) of inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study demonstrated that the hydroalcoholic extract of the rhizomes of R. abyssinicus facilitated wound healing at least in part via its anti-inflammatory activity, supporting its traditional claim as a wound healing agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. mulisa2e@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Eshetu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mulisa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. kasres@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kaleab
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asres
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ephrem.engidawork@aau.edu.et.
authors.forename: Ephrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engidawork
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D000432:Methanol; D051379:Mice; D009824:Ointments; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027343:Rhizome; D031804:Rumex / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009824:Ointments; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan; D000432:Methanol