Indian Journal of Experimental Biology

Vol. 47, January 2009, pp. 32-40

Evaluation of wound healing activity of extracts of plantain banana

(Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca) in rats
P K Agarwal*, A Singh*, K Gaurav*, Shalini Goel**, H D Khanna*** & R K Goel*
Departments of Pharmacology* and Biophysics***
Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
&
Department of Pathology**, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal 576 102, India
Received 19 September 2008; revised 17 November 2008

Plantain banana (M. sapientum var. paradisiaca, MS) has been shown to possess ulcer healing activity. The present
work with plantain banana was undertaken with the premise that the drug promoting ulcer healing could have effect on
wound healing also. Wound healing activity of MS was studied in terms of (i) percent wound contraction, epithelization
period and scar area; (ii) wound breaking strength and (iii) on granulation tissue antioxidant status [estimation of superoxide
dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH), free radical (lipid peroxidation, an indicator of tissue damage) and
connective tissue formation and maturation (hexuronic acid, hydroxyproline and hexosamine levels)] in excision, incision
and dead space wound models respectively. The rats were given graded doses (50-200 mg/kg/day) of aqueous (MSW) and
methanolic (MSE) extracts of MS orally for a period of 10-21 days depending upon the type of study. Both extracts
(100 mg/kg) when studied for incision and dead space wounds parameters, increased wound breaking strength and levels of
hydroxyproline, hexuronic acid, hexosamine, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione in the granulation tissue and
decreased percentage of wound area, scar area and lipid peroxidation when compared with the control group. Both the
extracts showed good safety profile. Plantain banana thus, favoured wound healing which could be due to its antioxidant
effect and on various wound healing biochemical parameters.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Free radicals, Musa sapientum, Wound healing

The function of skin is to serve as a protective barrier
against the environment. Wounds are physical injuries
that result in an opening or break of the skin. After
injury, the objective of wound healing is to restore
structure and function to an injured tissue in order to
approximate pre-wound characteristics. Healing is a
complex and intricate process initiated in response to
an injury that restores the function and integrity of
damaged tissues. Healing process can be broadly
categorized into three stages; inflammatory phase
(consisting the establishment of homeostasis and
inflammation); proliferate phase (consisting of
granulation, contraction and epithelialization) and
finally the remodelling phase which ultimately
determines the strength and appearance of the healed
tissue1. The prevalence of chronic wounds in the
community was reported as 4.5 per 1000 population
whereas that of acute wounds was nearly doubled at
__________
10.5 per 1000 population2. Healing of a chronic
wound requires care that is patient centered, holistic,
interdisciplinary and should be cost effective and
evidence based. Several natural products3, plant
products, which are composed of active principles,
like triterpenes and alkaloids and flavonoids4 and
biomolecules5 have been reported to promote the
process of wound healing.
Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca (family
Musaceae) grows in humid lowland to upland tropical
areas. Extensive investigations regarding anti-
ulcerogenic and ulcer healing activities of plantain
banana have been carried out for the past 30 years.
Multicentric trial has shown plantain banana to be
helping in early healing of ulcer dyspepsias and
delaying ulcer recurrences6. However, the medicinal
values of the plant pertaining to wound has not yet
been reported. The plantain banana was selected with

the promise that the drug promoting ulcer healing

Correspondent author could have effect on wound healing also. Cytokines
Telephone: 91-0542-2307522;
Fax-91-0542-2367568 and growth factors play an important role in the
E-mail: rkgoel_bhu@yahoo.co.in pathogenesis of chronic diseases like chronic wound
 AGARWAL et al.: WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF PLANTAIN BANANA EXTRACTS
and ulcers. Recently, a decrease in TNF- and
Interleukin-1 and an increase in tissue growth
factor-1 was observed after treatment with alcoholic
extract of dried pulp of plantain banana in gastric
mucosal homogenates of experimental gastric ulcers
induced by acetic acid (unpublished data).
The present work includes the experimental
induction of excision, incision, and dead space
wounds and estimating the physical parameters like
epithelization period, scar area, wound breaking
strength and weight of granulation tissue. Further the
estimation of biochemical parameters like
hydroxyproline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid;
oxidative free radical; lipid peroxidation (LPO) and
antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), and
glutathione (GSH) levels were done in the granulation
tissue of dead space wounds in rats. The effects of
both aqueous and methanolic extract of dried fruit
pulp of plantain banana were seen on different
parameters as mentioned above. Acute toxicity of the
extracts of these plants has also been done to know
the safety profile.
Materials and Methods
Animals Inbred Charles-Foster (CF) strain
albino rats (150-200 g) of either sex, obtained from
the Central animal house of Institute of Medical
Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi were
kept in the departmental animal house at 26 2 C,
44- 56% RH and 10:14 hr L:D cycle for 1 week
before and during the experiments. Animals were
provided with standard rodent pellet diet (Pashu
Aahar Vihar, Ramnagar, Varanasi) and water was
given ad libitum. Principles of laboratory animal
care (NIH publication no. 82-23, revised 1985)
guidelines were followed. Approval from the
Institutional Animal Ethical Committee was taken
prior to the experimental work.
Plant material Big sized, unripe, green plantain
banana fruit (Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca, MS)
collected during September to March were obtained
locally7. The skin of the fruit was peeled off and the
pulp was cut into small pieces and dried at room
temperature and powdered and stored for further use.
Preparation of extracts The aqueous extract of
MS (MSW) was prepared by adding 200 ml of
distilled water thrice in 200 g of banana powder, at an
interval of two days. The distilled water containing
extract so obtained each time was mixed and later
dried at 40 C in incubator. The methanolic extract of
MS (MSE) was prepared by adding 1 liter of
33
methanol thrice, at an interval of two days. The
methanol containing extract so obtained each time
was mixed and later dried at room temperature. Both
the extracts were stored at -20C until further use. The
yield of MSW and MSE was 4.5 to 5.0% (w/w) and
1.6 to 1.8% (w/w) respectively.
Standard drug Vitamin E (200mg/kg)8 was
selected as standard drug for the comparison of
wound healing actions in experimental animals9.
Treatment protocol The wound healing study
was undertaken in excision, incision and dead space
wound healing models. MSW, MSE and Vitamin E
were suspended in 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose
(CMC) in distilled water and given orally once daily
from day 0, 4 hr after the induction of experimental
excision wound either for 21 days or till the period of
complete epithelization while, control rats received
0.5% CMC only. The animals received the test drugs
orally with the help of an oro-gastric tube in the
volume of 10 ml/kg body weight. For wound healing
study in incision wound and dead space wound model,
the animals received the treatment up to 10 days.
The healing effect of orally administered, graded
doses of MSW and MSE (50,100 and 200 mg/kg)
were initially studied on excision wound model of rat,
when given once daily till the complete epithelization
of wound. 100 mg/kg of MSW/MSE was found to
have an optimal effect so for further studies on
incision and dead space wounds, this dose was
chosen. The effects of MSW and MSE were seen on
various (a) physical parameters like epithelization
period, wound breaking strength, scar area and weight
of wet and dried granulation tissues and (b) healing
biochemical parameters like hydroxyproline,
hexosamine and hexuronic acid in the dried
granulation tissue. The effects of MSW and MSE
were also seen on oxidative free radical lipid
peroxidation (LPO) levels and antioxidants
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH)
in wet granulation tissue of control and wounded rats
to assess the antioxidant and tissue damage (LPO)
status. To study the safety profile of the extracts,
acute toxicity was carried out in mice using 5
different doses of the test extracts (MSW/MSE
50,100, 200, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg).
Experimental procedure The CF strains of
albino rats of either sex weighing between 150-200 g
were taken for the study. Rats were anaesthetized with
pentobarbitone in the dose of 35 mg/kg
intraperitonially.
34 INDIAN J EXP BIOL, JANUARY 2009
(i) Excision wound10: A circular piece of skin of
full thickness (~500 mm2) was cut off from a
predetermined area on the back of the rat. Wounds
were traced on 1mm2 graph paper on the day of
wounding and subsequently at a gap period of 4 days
till day 12 and then on the alternate days, until healing
was complete. Change in wound area was calculated,
giving an indication of the rate of wound contraction.
Number of days required for falling of eschar without
any residual raw wound indicated the period of
epithelization.
% wound contraction = Healed area/
total wound area 100
(Healed area = original wound area
present wound area)
(ii) Incision wound11: Two paravertebral incisions
(6 cm long) were made through the full thickness of
the skin on either side of the vertebral column.
Wounds were closed with interrupted sutures, 1 cm
apart with the help of black silk surgical thread and a
curved needle (no. 11). The sutures were removed on
the 7th day. Wound breaking strength (WBS) was
measured on 10th post-wounding day. WBS was
measured in anesthetized rats secured on to the
operation table. A line was drawn on either side of the
paravertebral wound 3mm away from the wound.
Two Allice forceps were firmly applied on to the line
facing each other. One of the forceps was fixed, while
the other was connected to a freely suspended
lightweight polypropylene graduated container
through a string run over to a pulley. Water was
allowed to flow from the reservoir slowly and steadily
into the container. A gradual increase in weight was
transmitted to the wound site pulling apart the wound
edges. As and when the wound just opened up, the
water flow was arrested and the volume of water
collected in the container (approximately equal to
its weight) was noted. Three readings were
recorded for a given incision wound and the
procedure was repeated on the wound on the contra
lateral side. The average reading of the group was
taken as an individual value of breaking strength.
Mean value gives the breaking strength for a given
group.
(iii) Dead space wound12,13: Wounds were created
by implanting two polypropylene tubes (0.5 2.5 cm2
each), one on either side in the lumbar region on the
dorsal surface of each rat. On the 10th post-wounding
day, the animals were sacrificed and granulation
tissues formed on the implanted tubes were carefully
dissected out. The granulation tissues from one of the
tubes were collected, and dried at 60 C for 24 hr. It
was weighed and kept in glass stoppered test tubes.
6N HCl was added in each tube so that it contained
40 mg of the dried granulation tissue per ml of acid.
The tubes were kept on boiling water bath for 24 hr
(12 hr each for two days) for hydrolysis. The
hydrolysate was then cooled and excess of acid was
neutralised by 10N NaOH using phenolphthalein. The
volume of neutral hydrolysate was diluted to a
concentration of 20 mg/ml of dried granulation tissue
in the final hydrolysate with distilled water. The
hydrolysate was used for the estimation of
hydroxyproline14, hexuronic acid15 and hexosamine16
following the standard procedures. The granulation
tissues from the other tube were homogenised at 4 C
in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 10% homogenate).
Crude homogenate was centrifuged at 14000 rpm for
30 min. Supernatant was then used for the assays of
antioxidant enzyme like superoxide dismutase17 and
reduced glutathione18 and tissue lipid peroxidation19
estimation.
Statistical analysis Statistical comparison was
performed using one way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) and for multiple comparisons versus
control group was done by Dunnetts test. All
statistical analyses were performed using SPSS
statistical version 16.0 software package (SPSS Inc.,
USA). P value <0.05 were considered statistically
significant.
Results
Wound parameters:
Excision wound Control rats showed a time-
dependant increase in percent wound contraction from
10.8 to 71.4% from day 4th to day 12th and 85.3 to
99.8% from the day 14th to day 20th, while complete
wound closure and epithelization was observed on
22nd day of wound induction compared with day 0
which was taken as 0% (Fig.1). The mean
epithelization period and scar area were 20.6 days
and 50.6 mm2 respectively. Vitamin E (standard
drug) treated rats showed increase in percent wound
contraction from 19.5 to 85.1 on day 4th to day 12th
and 92.2 to 100% from day 14th to day 20th. The
mean epithelization period and scar area were
observed as 19.2 day and 40.4 mm2 respectively
(Tables 1, 2).
 AGARWAL et al.: WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF PLANTAIN BANANA EXTRACTS
Fig. 1 Photographic representation of contraction rate showing
% wound contraction area on different post-excision days of
control and MSW treated rats: Day 8 (C-41.5, MSW-49.7);
Day 12 (C-71.4, MSW-89.8); Day 16 (C-91.5, MSW-99.8).
Graded doses of both MSW and MSE
(50-200 mg/kg) showed dose-dependent increase in
percent wound contraction up to day 14th of treatment
from 14.3 to 99.6% (MSW) (Fig.1) and 14.8 to 95.4%
(MSE) respectively, while complete epithelization
was observed at day 16th onwards. The epithelization
period varied from 15 to 17 days and scar area from
33.8 to 38.0 mm2 (MSW) and 35.2 to 41.8 mm2
(MSE) respectively (Tables 1, 2). On the basis of
35
above study, a dose of 100 mg/kg for MSW/MSE was
selected for further study on incision and dead space
wounds in rats.
Incision wound Control rats showed mean
wound breaking strength of 266.7 g, while MSW and
MSE showed wound-breaking strength of 470.0 and
377.3 g respectively. Both the extracts showed
significant increase in WBS (P<0.001) compared with
control (Table 3). Again wound healing property of
MSW and MSE were comparable with vitamin E
(Table 3).
Biochemical and antioxidant parameters:
Dead space wound model Both MSW and MSE
caused an increase in wet and dry weight of
granulation tissue compared to control (P<0.001)
(Table 3). Both the test drugs showed an increase in
hydroxyproline, hexuronic acid and hexosamine
levels per g dried granulation tissue compared to
control group indicating better effects on wound
healing (Table 3). They also showed increase in the
level of antioxidant status as indicated by an increase
in SOD and glutathione levels compared to control
group (Table 3). However, the level of LPO (MDA
level) was decreased by the test extracts indicating
decrease in tissue damage compared to the control
group (Table 3). A close scrutiny of effects of MSW
and MSE showed a similar effect on the above
parameters and their effects were comparable with
Vitamin E (Table 3).
Safety profileMSW/MSE (50-1200 mg/kg) did
not show any change in spontaneous and voluntary
motor activity upto 24 hr; seen at interval of 30 min,
1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 24 hr and spontaneous activity till
7 days after treatment. No changes in the colour of
skin, fur, eyes and mucous membrane and other CNS
(behavioUr, gait, convulsion, lethargy, coma) and
ANS (diarrhoea and salivation) parameters were
found when observed daily till 21 days after
treatment.
Discussion
Wound represents a major health problem, both in
terms of morbidity and mortality. Wound healing is a
fundamental response to tissue injury that results in
restoration of tissue integrity. It mainly depends on
the repairing ability of the tissue, type and extent of
damage and general state of the health of the tissue20.
A therapeutic agent selected for the treatment of
wounds should ideally improve one or more phases of
healing without producing deleterious side effects21.
36 INDIAN J EXP BIOL, JANUARY 2009

Table 1 Effect of graded doses of aqueous extract of M. sapientum var. paradisiaca (MSW) and Vitamin E (VTE) on wound
contraction, epithelization period and scar area
[Values are mean SE of 6 rats. Results in parenthesis indicate % change from respective 0 day value of each group]

Oral Wound contraction Epithelization Scar

treatment (mm2 /rat) Period Area

(mg/kg, od) 0 day 4th day 8th day 12th 14th day 16th day 18th day 20th 22nd (days) (mm2)
day day day
Control 407.0 363.2 238.2 116.6 59.8 34.6 16.4 0.8 0 20.6 50.6
(0.5% CMC) 3.3 9.8 8.3 5.4 2.3 2.7 1.3 0.6 0 0.4 2.5
(0.0) (10.8) (41.5) (71.4) (85.3) (91.5) (96.0) (99.8) (100.0)
MSW 50 420.0 359.8 204.0 84.0 34.8 1.6 0 0 0 17.0 35.4
d d d d d
10.4 7.3 6.7 4.3 2.6 0.68 0 0 0 0.45 1.4d
(0.0) (14.3) (51.4) (80.0) (92.0) (99.6) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0)
100 404.4 331.4 203.6 41.2 1.8 0 0 0 0 15.0 33.8
7.6 8.0 5.5 4.8 d 0.8d 0d 0 0 0 0.45d 3.6d
(0.0) (18.1) (49.7) (89.8) (99.6) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0)
200 422.4 360.8 196.4 46.0 22.8 0.8 0 0 0 16.8 38.0
a d d d d d
7.1 8.9 4.1 4.2 3.2 0.37 0 0 0 0.37 1.5d
(0.0) (14.7) (53.5) (89.1) (94.6) (99.8) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0)
VTE 200 424.8 341.8 134.6 63.2 33.0 15.8 2.2 0 0 19.2 40.4
d d d d d c
20.4 20.0 3.1 7.1 1.8 3.3 0.38 0 0 0.37 1.7b
(0.0) (19.5) (68.31) (85.1) (92.2) (96.3) (99.5) (100.0) (100.0)
Statistical analysis was done by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnetts test for multiple comparisons.
P values: a<0.05, b<0.01, c<.005 and d<0.001 are compared to control values of respective dates or values.

Table 2 Effect of graded doses of methanolic extract of M. sapientum var. paradisiaca (MSE) and VTE on wound contraction,
epithelization period and scar area
[Values are mean SE of 6 rats. Results in parenthesis indicate % change from respective 0 day value of each group]

Oral Wound contraction Epithelization Scar

treatment (mm2 /rat) Period Area
(mg/kg, 0 day 4th day 8th day 12 day 14th day
th
16th day 18th day 20th day 22nd day (days) (mm2)
od)
Control 407.0 363.2 238.2 116.6 59.8 34.6 16.4 0.8 0 20.6 50.6
(0.5% 3.3 9.8 8.3 5.4 2.3 2.7 1.3 0.58 0 0.4 2.5
CMC) (0.0) (10.8) (41.5) (71.4) (85.3) (91.5) (96.0) (99.8) (100.0)
MSE 50 423.0 360.4 220.6 85.4 39.6 1.8 0 0 0 17.2 40.4
5.5 5.9 3.7 3.1d 2.2d 0.73d 0d 0 0 0.37d 1.9b
(0.0) (14.8) (47.9) (79.8) (90.6) (99.6) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0)
100 403.8 336.6 168.8 67.6 18.6 0.4 0 0 0 15.8 35.2
4.2 6.5 3.5d 2.5d 3.9d 0.4d 0d 0 0 0.37d 2.6d
(0.0) (16.6) (58.2) (83.3) (95.4) (99.9) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0)
200 406.6 344.6 198.4 82.8 31.2 0.8 0 0 0 16.4 41.8
11.5 11.5 7.0a 7.6d 4.2d 0.49d 0d 0 0 0.24d 1.8a
(0.0) (15.3) (51.2) (79.8) (92.3) (99.8) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0)
VTE 200 424.8 341.8 134.6 63.2 33.0 15.8 2.2 0 0 19.2 40.4
20.4 20.0 3.1d 7.1d 1.8d 3.3d 0.38d 0c 0 0.37 1.7
(0.0) (19.5) (68.31) (85.1) (92.2) (96.3) (99.5) (100.0) (100.0)
Statistical analysis was done by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnetts test for multiple comparisons.
P values: a<0.05, b<0.01, c<0.005 and d<0.001 are compared to control values of respective dates or values.
 AGARWAL et al.: WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF PLANTAIN BANANA EXTRACTS 37

Table 3 Effect of MSW, MSE and VTE on Incision and Dead space wound parameters
[Values are mean SE of 6 rats]

Oral treatment (mg/kg, od) 10 days Control MSW MSE VTE

(0.5% CMC) (100) (100) (200)
Incision wound parameter

Wound breaking strength (g) 266.7 6.47 470.0 5.27** 377.3 4.03** 386.2 6.52**

Dead space wound parameters

Weight (mg/100g bw)
Wet 194.5 3.4 347.2 4.5** 322.0 3.5** 303.5 4.5**
Dry 41.0 2.3 64.2 1.6** 56.8 2.1** 55.2 2.3**
Dry tissue study (mg/g)
Hydroxyproline 19.3 0.65 28.7 1.2* 27.7 1.8* 28.2 2.7*
Hexuronic Acid 12.7 1.1 27.3 4.3* 26.0 2.7* 24.1 3.1*
Hexosamine 10.5 1.6 22.8 1.1** 19.7 0.88* 20.4 2.8*

Wet tissue study

Antioxidants
Glutathione (mcg/g) 12.3 0.97 25.4 1.8** 19.8 1.3* 20.2 1.4*
SOD (U/mg) 1.38 0.14 2.41 0.21* 2.36 0.14* 2.21 0.23*
Free radicals
LPO (MDA, n M/mg) 0.56 .0.010 0.17 0.016** 0.28 0.020** 0.27 0.016**
Statistical analysis was done by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnetts test for multiple comparisons.
P values: *<0.005, **<0.001 compared to control group.

Traditional Indian system of medicine has many
plants with versatile medicinal properties, which
require detailed investigation for effective drug
development. Plant products are potential agents for
wound healing and largely preferred because of their
widespread availability, non-toxicity, absence of
unwanted side effects and their effectiveness as crude
preparations22. In continuation of the development of
drugs from plants to medicine, the extracts of Musa
sapientum (plantin banana) were selected for wound
healing effect. Plantain banana was reported to have
ulcer healing activity through its predominant effects
on mucosal defensive factors promoting mucosal cell
proliferation and enhanced DNA synthesis without
any carcinogenic/mutagenic effect23.
Collagen is the predominant extracellular protein in
the granulation tissue of a healing wound and there is
a rapid increase in the synthesis of this protein in the
wound area soon after an injury, which provides
strength and integrity to tissue matrix. Measurement
of this hydroxyproline, which comes from the
breakdown of collagen, has been used as an index of
collagen turnover. In the present study, both the
extracts (MSE/MSW) showed dose-dependent faster
healing and increased tensile strength of the healed
incision wounds. They also increased the wet and dry
weight and the hydroxyproline content of the
granulation tissue indicating the presence of higher
collagen content and its turnover leading to rapid
healing with concurrent increase in the tensile
strength of the treated wounds.
Biological activities in skin are due to its
interaction with various binding proteins. In the tissue
repair process, inflammatory cells promote the
migration and proliferation of endothelial cells,
leading to neovascularisation of connective tissue
cells which synthesize extracellular matrices
including collagen, and of keratinocytes resulting to
re-epithelialisation of the wounded tissue20. In the
wound healing process, collagen formation peaks at
day 7 and epithelialisation occurs in 48 hr under
optimal conditions24. The present result also indicated
significant decrease in wound area from day 8
onwards indicating early healing. In incision wound,
an increase in tensile strength of treated wounds was
observed and this may be due to the increase in
collagen concentration and stabilization of the
fibres25. The collagen molecules synthesized are laid
down at the wound site and become cross-linked to
form fibres. Wound strength is acquired from both,
remodelling of collagen, and the formation of stable
intra- and inter-molecular crosslink. Since incisional
38 INDIAN J EXP BIOL, JANUARY 2009
wounds treated with MSW and MSE showed
greater tensile strength, it might be inferred that the
above extracts not only increased collagen
synthesis per cell, but also aided in cross-linking of
the protein.
Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans
(e.g. hexuronic acid and hexosamine) are synthesized
by fibroblasts in the wound area. Hexosamine and
hexuronic acid are matrix molecules, which act as
ground substratum for the synthesis of new
extracellular matrix. These substances form a highly
hydrated gel-like ground substance, a provisional
matrix on which collagen fibres are embedded. They
are known to stabilize the collagen fibres by
enhancing electrostatic and ionic interactions with it
and possibly control their ultimate alignment and
characteristic size. In our study, hexuronic acid and
hexosamine concentrations were significantly
increased with both the extracts and it is likely that
the observed increase in tensile strength was not only
due to increased collagen synthesis but also due to its
proper deposition and alignment.
Free radicals and oxidative reaction products
produce tissue damage and are particularly
encountered during connective tissue disorders like
fibrosis as well as during wound healing26,27.
Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
results in oxidative stress thereby causing cytotoxicity
and delayed wound healing. Therefore, elimination of
ROS could be an important strategy in healing of
chronic wounds28. Hence, estimation of antioxidants
like SOD and glutathione in granulation tissues is also
relevant because these antioxidants hasten the process
of wound healing by destroying the free radicals29.
The significant alteration in the antioxidant profile
accompanied by the elevated levels of MDA, a
marker of free radical damage, may be attributed to
impaired wound healing in immuno-compromised
rats30. The studies on the SOD, glutathione, and lipid
peroxidation status revealed that both MSW and MSE
possessed significant antioxidant activity, which
would help to prevent oxidative damage and promote
wound-healing processes.
Safety of the medicinal plants is equally
important when they are used clinically. Acute
toxicity study in mice did not show any CNS,
autonomic or lethal effects even with orally
administered 1200 mg/kg of the extracts of
MSW/MSE (cf. effective wound healing dose of
100 mg/kg). A substance is considered safe if it
produces no adverse effect in 10 times of the
therapeutic dose31. These findings support the
observation of safety of the banana extracts.
The preliminary phytochemical analysis of
M. sapientum revealed the presence
of flavonoids (leucocyanidin)32, sterylacylglycosides
and sitoindisides I-IV33,34. Sitoindoside IV was
reported to mobilize and activate peritoneal
macrophages with increase in DNA and [3H]-
thymidine uptake35. Flavonoids are known to reduce
lipid peroxidation not only by preventing or slowing
the onset of cell necrosis but also by improving
vascularity. Hence, any drug that inhibits lipid
peroxidation is believed to increase the viability of
collagen fibrils by increasing the strength of
collagen fibres, increasing the circulation,
preventing the cell damage and by promoting the
DNA synthesis36. Flavonoids37 are also known to
promote the wound-healing process mainly due to
their astringent and antimicrobial property, which
seems to be responsible for wound contraction and
increased rate of epithelialisation. Thus, wound-
healing property of MS may be attributed to the
phytoconstituents present in it, which may be either
due to their individual or additive effect that fastens
the process of wound healing. Since M. sapientum
are ubiquitous and abundantly grown, it could be a
fairly economical therapeutic agent for wound
management as a pro-healer, as well as to control
abnormal healing.
The faster wound contraction rate of the extracts
may also be due to stimulation of interleukin-8, an
inflammatory -chemokine and various growth
factors or inhibition of proinflammatory markers
like IL-1 and TNF- which affect the function and
recruitment of various inflammatory cells,
fibroblasts and keratinocytes38-40. As growth factor
and cytokines have important role in different
phases of wound healing so further studies would
be carried out with the plantain banana extracts on
these factors in the granulation tissue to assess their
effect on these important parameters on wound
healing.
Thus, the results of present study do indicate an
important healing effect of both aqueous and
methanolic extracts of dried pulp powder of mature
unripe fruit of Musa sapientum var. paradisiaca and
their effects were comparable to vitamin E on various
physical and biochemical parameters of wound
healing.
 AGARWAL et al.: WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF PLANTAIN BANANA EXTRACTS
Acknowledgement
This paper is dedicated in the memory of
Late Prof. A. K. Sanyal, Ex. Head, Department of
Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi.
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