Wound Healing Potential of Musa paradisiaca L. (Musaceae) Stem Juice Extract Formulated into an Ointment

Musa paradisiaca L (plantain) stem juice has been shown to possess haemostatic effect. The present work was undertaken with the premise that if the stem juice is able to stop bleeding, then it could have wound healing potential. An ointment containing extract of plantain stem juice (10%) was formulated and tested for wound healing activity in rats using excision wound model. The results indicate that topical application of the formulated ointment significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the rate of wound healing and reduced the epithelization period. The percentage closure of wound area for the ointments of plantain stem juice and silver sulphadoxine were 98.9±0.7 and 100±0.00, respectively. Epithelization period was drastically reduced from 21.0±1.4 days for the petroleum jelly-treated group to 14.6±0.5 days for silver sulphadoxine-treated group and 16.8±0.8 days for the extract-treated group. In conclusion the study clearly shows the potential of plantain stem juice ointment in wound healing confirming its ethno-medicinal use.