Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Addition of Selenium to Carica papaya Linn Pulp Extract Enhances Dermal Wound Healing Activity

Nafiu B Abdulrazaq, Haris B Akram, Dinie Najwa Bero, Mohd Yusof bin Mohamad, Izzati Abd Malik, Mohammad Tariqur Rahman

Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang 25200, Malaysia;

For correspondence:- Mohammad Rahman Email: tarique@iium.edu.my Tel:+6095716400

Received: 10 May 2012 Accepted: 3 January 2013 Published: 21 February 2013

Citation: Abdulrazaq NB, Akram HB, Bero DN, Mohamad MY, Malik IA, Rahman MT. Addition of Selenium to Carica papaya Linn Pulp Extract Enhances Dermal Wound Healing Activity. Trop J Pharm Res 2013; 12(1):77-84 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v12i1.13

© 2013 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the combined effect of Carica papaya extract and mineral elements wound healing.

Methods: Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and water extracts of unripe Carica papaya. papaya were analyzed for mineral element composition (Ca, calcium; Mg, magnesium; Na, sodium; Fe, iron; Mn, manganese; Zn, zinc; Ag, silver; and Se, selenium) using a microwave-assisted digestion procedure. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for the analysis of the elements. Phytochemical analysis was conducted using standard protocols. Mice weighing 25 - 30 g were anesthetized, shaved and inflicted with wound at the dorsal region using a biopsy punch. The mice were treated topically twice daily with or without 5 mg/ml PBS or water extracts containing 100 or 200 µM Zn2+ or 1.0 or 0.5 µg/g Se2+. The standard (positive control) group was treated with solcoseryl and the negative control with deionised H2O. Wound area was monitored with a camera and evaluated by software.

Results: PBS extract formulated with Se2+. (0.5 or 1.0 mg/g) took approximately 9 days for complete wound healing while negative control took 14 days and other treatment groups least 10 days. PBS extract contained 9 % protein but no tannin while water extract contained 0.58 % protein and tannins. Calcium (137.98 mg/100 g extract) constituted the most abundant macro-element while Se (32.14 mg/100 g extract) was the most abundant microelement in C. papaya pulp.

Conclusion: Addition of selenium to C. papaya extracts augments the wound healing activity of the extracts.

Keywords: Papaya, Zn, Selenium, dermal wound healing