Antimicrobial and wound healing properties of the methanol extract of Ficus platyphylla Del. (Moraceae) stem bark

Abstract

Ficus platyphylla (Fp) has been used in Nigerian traditional medicine for the management of pain, ulcer, wound, epilepsy and inflammation. The efficacy of its gum from the stem bark for the management of wound has been widely acclaimed among the Hausa communities of Northern Nigeria and therefore, this study was aimed at examining the antimicrobial and wound healing potential of methanol extract of F. platyphylla stem bark (MEFpSB) in order to provide scientific basis for its antimicrobial and wound healing properties. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done and antimicrobial activity using some pathogenic micro-organisms were evaluated following its wound healing effectiveness in Wistar rats using the model of superficial skin excision wound. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnet’s t-test. The results of preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrate, cardiac glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, triterpenes, tannins, alkaloids with anthraquinones absent. The extract showed antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium ulcerans, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Salmonella typhi and significant (p< 0.05, p< 0.001) decrease in wound measurement for 11 days. This study demonstrated that MEFpSB possesses antimicrobial activity with wound healing properties that justifies the ethno-medicinal use of the plant in wound/ulcer healings.