Evaluation of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves extracts as wound healing promoter on rats

The present study was designed to evaluate the potential of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves as wound healing promoter. The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each. Rats were anesthetized using ketamine/xylazine cocktail and full thickness incision wounds were created on the dorsal part of the rats. The animals were topically treated with water and ethanol extracts at a dose of 0.01g/ml once a day for 15 consecutive days. A positive control group was treated with cetrimide 2% solution and one group served as untreated controls. In another group, wounds were left open without suture and further treatment. The tensile strength and wound healing process was evaluated macroscopically and histologically after 2 weeks. Wounds treated with both Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves water and ethanol extracts showed better healing with slightly visible fineline scar. Histological evaluation showed that wound treated with both Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves extract was reepithelialised, granulation tissues in the wound were nearly replaced by fibrosis and hair follicles were almost healed. The arrangement of collagen fibres in the skin treated with both extracts was similar to conventional treatment. Moreover the ethanol extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaves-treated skin had the highest tensile strength. In conclusion, both water and ethanol extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis are potentiate in modulating the wound healing process and therefore could be a possible alternative to conventional treatments.