Effect of Tridax procumbens on burn wound healing

The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Tridax procumbens (TP) on burn wound healing when administered orally and topically and to assess the influence of TP on steroid depressed burn wound. Partial thickness burn wound model was employed for the study. The rats were anaesthetized with pentobarbitone and the hair on the dorsum of the animal was clipped. Burn wounds were created by pouring hot molten wax at 80° C, melted on a hot water bath into the metal cylinder mould which is firmly applied on the clear shaven area of the back of the animal. The parameters studied were: epithelization period and wound contraction. The percentage of burn wound contraction was significantly increased in TP oral group (90.22 ± 0.41) and TP topical group (92.49 ± 0.67) when compared to the control group on the 16 ^th day (p < 0.05) and also in TP topical group (40.27 ± 3.70) when compared to TP oral group (25.94 ± 2.52) on the 8^th day (p < 0.05). The period of burn wound epithelization was significantly hastened in the TP topical group (18.67 ± 0.33) when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There was significant increase in the percentage of burn wound contraction in Dexamethasone (DM) plus TP oral group (67.72 ± 2.30) and in DM plus TP topical group (73.78 ± 2.37) when compared to the DM group (43.16 ± 5.09) (p < 0.05). The period of burn wound epithelization was significantly hastened in both DM plus TP oral group (26.33 ± 0.56 days) and DM plus TP topical group (25.67 ± 0.33 days) when compared to the DM group.