THE EFFECTS OF PURE EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF AMPALAYA (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA) ON THE HEALING OF LINEAR WOUND IN GUINEA PIGS

This experimental study on 40 Guinea pigs was performed to determine the effects of topically applied extracts from various parts of Ampalaya (leaves, fruit, and vine) on mean duration of healing of a standard linear wound using randomized double blind design, Subjects were divided into 4 groups of 10, assigned as to Control (Group A) and Treatment groups (Group B - Leaves extract, Group C - Fruit extract, Group D - Vines extract) using simple random sampling. Treatment groups, receiving two drops of the assigned extract daily, and the control groups were observed grossly for signs of Cicatrization (absence of scab, pale and shiny wound surface, non-blanching upon light pressure) everyday for 21 days (end of treatment period) by a single observer. Mean duration of wound healing (in days) in all groups were analyzed using Duncan`s Multiple Range Test. All Ampalaya extract significantly abortened the duration of healing by an average of 1.79 days (approximately 2 days) as confirmed by a common P value of 0.0001, falling below the set alpha level of 0.05 compared to Control. All treatment yielded a common standard deviation of less than 0.2, as represented by a common letter B for all Treatment groups over a letter A for Control in the Grouping analysis specifically utilized by the Duncan`s Test, denoting equal significance among extracts. With a 95% level of confidence, the study confirms the effectiveness of pure Ampalaya extracts in decreasing the duration of healing of linear incisions with all 3 tested extracts being equally significant.

Department of Pharmacology