Abstract:
Background:Ricinus communis (R.communis) is one of the traditional medicinal plants used in
Ethiopia to treat wounds and other diseases. However, the plant has not been scientifically
validated to treat wounds.
Objective of the study: This study aimed to evaluate in-vivo wound healing activities in mice
models and in-vitro anti-oxidant activities of Ricinus Communis L. seed solvent extracts.‖
February 2024 to August 2024.
Methods: The grounded seeds of R. communis was subsequently extracted by petroleum ether,
chloroform and methanol in maceration flasks at different times. The filtrate was concentrated.
Phytochemical screening of the extracts of the seeds of the plant was also conducted. Excision
and incision wound models were used to evaluate wound-healing activities.
Results:The phytochemical analysis of the seeds revealed the presence of different secondary
metabolites.The acute dermal toxicity test did not cause any dermal toxicity in the mice with a
single dose of 2000 mg/kg of 10 % w/w of 80%methanol crude extract ointment. In the excision
wound model, the data revealed that 10% (w/w) of absolute methanol, 80% methanol, and
chloroform extract ointments exhibited a significant wound contraction effect (from day 6 to 18,
P < 0.01 for both the absolute and 80% methanol and from day 8 to 18,p< 0.05 for chloroform)
was observed with a significant decrease in epithelization period (at day 9, P < 0.01), (at day
10,P < 0.01), and (at day 14,P < 0.01), respectively. On the other hand, the 5% (w/w) ointments
of all the extracts showed a significant effect in wound contraction (from day 8 onwards, P<
0.01) and epithelization period (at day 12, P< 0.05). Maximum antioxidant activity was seen in
the petroleum ether extract with an IC50 value of 43.87±3.67 mg/mL.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the absolute methanol extracts of the seeds of
R. communis showed highly significant wound healing activities (100%, p< 0.001).The
scavenging activity of the extracts was increased in a dose-dependent manner and hence, the 100
µg/mL petroleum ether extract showed the best antioxidant activity (90.66%, p<0.001) with an
IC50 values of 43.87±3.67 mg/mL. Therefore, the effect of the seeds extract of R. communis
supported the traditional claim of the plant.
