Oludare Temitope Osuntokun, Stephen Dayo Olorundare, Akele.E.O and Ojo, O. S.
Surgical wound infections are a serious problem that can delay healing and increase the risk of complications and death. Antibiotics are often not enough to treat these infections, because of the growing resistance of bacteria, the adverse effects of drugs, and the high cost of treatment. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative therapies, such as natural plant extracts, that can have antimicrobial properties and enhance wound healing. Previous studies have shown that some plants, such as ginger (Zingiber officinale) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum), have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing effects. However, the optimal methods of extracting and applying these plant oils, and their efficacy and safety in animal and human models, are not well established. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oil extracts of ginger and clove on wound healing in albino rats and their antibacterial activity against surgical wound isolates. The oil extracts were prepared using two different solvents (N-hexane and olive oil) and concentrations (100%, 50%, 25%and 12.5%), and applied topically to the wounds of albino rats. The wound healing process was evaluated by measuring the serum and tissue levels of inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and tissue repair enzymes. The antibacterial activity of the oil extracts was tested against ten bacterial strains isolated from surgical wounds of patients in four hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria, using the agar well diffusion method. The results showed that the oil extracts improved the wound healing process in rats by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage, and increasing tissue regeneration and repair. The oil extracts also showed antibacterial activity against the wound pathogens. The N-hexane solvent extraction was the most effective method for obtaining ginger oil with high antibacterial activity, while the other methods and oils were ineffective against bacterial pathogens. The study concluded that oil extracts of ginger and clove have potential benefits for the treatment of wounds and wound infections in albino rats. The study suggested that further research is needed to optimize the extraction and application methods and to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of these plant oils in human trials.