Syzygium mundagam bark methanol extract restores skin to normal in diabetic wounded rats

Diabetic wounds have been identified as one of the major complications associated with diabetes. This study features the use of Syzygium mundagam bark methanol (SMBM) extract in the treatment of wounds in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide induced diabetic rats. The extract ointment base, at 1 and 2% respectively, was applied to the wounded areas on the rats and monitored for 21 days. The wound closure, epithelialization period and histopathology of the wounds were evaluated during the study. Both the concentrations of the extract (1% and 2%) healed the wounds even under diabetic conditions induced in rats on day 21 (99.69% and 100% respectively). The 2% SMBM treated animals showed a higher rate of epithelialization of the wound (15 ± 0.49 days). The histopathology of the wounded skin on day 10 revealed that the rats treated with SMBM extract could initiate the healing and re-epithelialization. This was evident from the migration of neutrophils and proliferation of fibroblasts. On the 21st day, complete healing of the skin could be observed in the rats treated with 2% extract which was evident from the newly formed epidermis, collagen fibers and fibroblast. The results compared well with those treated with betadine (5%). The results of this study will support the use of this plant extract for diabetic healing over the use of commercially available synthetic drugs.