07/04/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
If you are out in the wild and get wounded, look for Hibiscus micranthus. New research has established this hibiscus’ ability to hasten the healing of wounds. The findings of the study, published in the journal BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine, suggested that the antibacterial properties and the phytochemicals of the plant are responsible for this effect.
In the study, a team of researchers from the University of Gondar in Ethiopia evaluated the antibacterial and wound-healing properties of an 80 percent methanol extract of H. micranthus leaves using disc diffusion methods and a mouse excision model.
Before proceeding to the actual study, the research team conducted acute oral toxicity and skin sensitivity tests which revealed that the extract was safe up to a dose of two grams per kilogram (g/kg) and that it does not cause skin irritation.
The research team conducted in vitro antibacterial screening against the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis with the use of disc-well diffusion assay. To assess the plant’s wound-healing activity, they gave the mice an ointment base as a negative control, a nitrofurazone ointment as a positive control, a five percent extract of H. micranthus leaves treatment, and a 10 percent extract of H. micranthus leaves treatment. They also investigated the leaf extract for secondary metabolites. Initial phytochemical screenings revealed that the leaf extract of H. micranthus contains alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids, phenols, diterpenes, and anthraquinones.
Results revealed that the most sensitive to the extracts of the leaves at concentrations of 800 micrograms per milliliter (μg/ml) and 400 μg/ml respectively were S. aureus and S. pneumoniae, followed by P. aeuruginosa at a concentration of 400 μg/ml. The other bacterial strains were resistant to the extract at any dose. Compared to the control treatments, the five percent and 10 percent leaf extracts caused 99.30 percent and 99.13 percent wound contraction rate, respectively.
The findings of the study suggested that H. micranthus is antibacterial and helps heal wounds faster due to the phytochemicals it contains. Therefore, the extract could potentially be used as a safe, non-toxic, natural antibacterial treatment for wounds.
Here are other plants that are ideal for wound healing:
You can also treat cuts and wounds using things you have at home, such as eggs, tea bags, and white vinegar.
Read more news stories and studies on natural treatments for wounds by going to NaturalCures.news.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, Antibacterial activity, healing wounds, herbal remedy, herbal treatments, hibiscus, hibiscus leaf extract, Hibiscus micranthus Linn., natural cures, wound healing activity, wound treatments