Abstract

Herbal medicines have made significant contributions to humankind's fight against illness and maintenance of health. It is estimated that 2.3 billion people, or 56% of the world's population, still depend on traditional healers and healing methods. Many plants contain antioxidants which are beneficial and are of therapeutic use in several ailments as well as wound healing. In most Ghanaian societies, when a person gets a fresh cut and bleeds profusely, the local people mash a leaf or more of Chromolaena odorata (Acheampong) or Sida acuta in their palms, squeeze and drop the liquid on the cut. The blood then clots a few seconds after the treatment. Random sampling was used to sort thirty albino rats into five groups. The extraction method of the herbal mixture adopted is maceration where four different solvents were used to do the extraction; 70% ethanol, 30% ethanol, 30% methanol and distill water. Penicillin ointment was used as a positive control. A circular wound of a specific diameter (2cm) was inflicted on the side of each rat by using a sterilized scalpel. The solvent extracts were applied on the wounds once a day for fifteen days. From the experiment, it was concluded that the four solvent extracts of the herbal mixture had a significant effect on healing wounds in the rats. Lastly, distil water and 30% methanol were most effective in the extraction of the herbal mixture. It is recommended that other parts of Chromolaena odorata L. and Sida acuta Burm. F. such as the roots or stems should be worked on to investigate their efficacy on wound healing.