1.
1 INTRODUCTION
Wound healing is a natural process whereby damaged tissues are repaired. It
happens in four overlapping stages, namely haemostasis (blood clotting),
inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling (Gosain, A. et al.., 2004 and
Guo, S. et al.., 2010). This involves complex processes carried out by different
types of cells, such as keratinocytes, fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and
endothelial cells (Liu, H.; Lin, S. et al.., 2013). Over the centuries, humans
from all over the world have used various methods to treat wounds and the
advent of modern wound healing only started in the 20 th century (Broughton,
G. et al.., 2006).
I order to reduce the wound burden towards healthcare and the economy, new
therapeutic approaches and technologies are continually being developed
(Velnar, T. et al.., 2009). At the same time, studies to evaluate the efficacy of
documented traditional approaches for wound healing, such as herbs (Herman,
A. et al.., 2020) or other alternative methods, such as leech therapy (Koeppen,
et al.., 2020 and Nair, H.K.R.; Ahmad, N.W. et al.., 2020) are also conducted.
An ideal wound dressing should be non-toxic and cost effective. Herbal
medicine can be considered to have a non-toxic nature due to its long history of
use and affordability (Ghomi, E.R. et al.., 2019).
Moringa oleifera is among the medicinal plants documented to be traditionally
used for wound healing purposes. Moringa oleifera Lam (M. oleifera),
belonging to the family Moringaceae, is an important plant that is used as food
and medicine in different parts of the world. It is called a “miracle tree” or
“Tree of Life” because of its medicinal properties that include antioxidant,
antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anticancer properties, to name a few (Kashyap
P., et al., 2022). M. oleifera is now spread throughout the tropics and is mostly
found wild in Northern India (Burkill, I.H. et al.., 1935).
The plant can grow up to 3–10 m tall and the bark has a grainy fiber inside and
corky outside. The leaves are green, 2–3 pinnate in shape, and about 60 cm
long. The flowers are fragrant and white in colour. The fruits are long and oval
in shape, green when young, and turn to brown when older (Polprasid, P. et al..,
1993).
Though all parts of the plant are active, the leaves are considered to be the most
active part, and they are consumed as both food and medicine (Milla P.G., et
al.., 2021). One of the effects of the Moringa plant that has been widely
reported is its wound healing properties (Rani N.Z.A. et al, 2018).
Traditionally, leaf paste of M. oleifera is used for wound healing in India (Patil,
S.B. et al.., 2009). In Malaysia, the plant’s root has been used variably for
women’s health during confinement periods and the seed oil is applied onto the
joints to treat rheumatism, and other reported traditional uses include
applications as a poultice on the abdomen to expel intestinal worms, rubbing
over the breasts to prevent milk flow, orally consumed to treat gonorrhoea, and
treating dropsy by mixing the leaves with lime (Burkill, I.H. 1935).
The phytochemical content of M. oleifera leaves consists of polyphenol,
phenolic acids, vitamins, carotenoids, isothiocyanates, tannins, saponins,
flavonoids, alkaloids, glucosinolates, oxalates, and phytates, which are
beneficial bioactive compounds (Leone, A. et al.., 2015). Phytochemicals
improves the quality of the human health, aid the function of the immune
system, protect cells and DNA from damages that may lead to cancer, and also
help reduce inflammation (Laksmitawati et al.., 2016).
Furthermore, local application of seed and leaf extracts of M. oleifera was
reported to increase wound healing in different experimental wound healing
models in rats (Hukkeri et al.., 2006). A study on wound healing in diabetic
rats reported that both local and oral administration of M. oleifera extract
increases the healing of excision wounds (Muhammad et al, 2016).
Based on the traditional uses of M. oleifera in wound healing and its
pharmacological action, such as antiseptic and antimicrobial, the objective of
this study is focused on the production of healing balm using Moringa oliefera
as an active ingredient.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Recently, there has been a great demand for the development of natural
products to cure different conditions owing to their availability, versatile
biological activities, and unique secondary metabolites. The use of natural
products to compliment or as an alternative to standard care is an appealing
area of interest in the last decades. To date, there is limited research exploring
the efficacy and safety of many of these products.
Consequently, the exploration of medicinal plants as new candidates for wound
healing would be valuable and beneficial, especially medicinal plants that are
characterised by biocompatibility, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory
properties. Moringa oliefera exhibits different biological activities to improve
human health, such as antioxidant, antitumour, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and
wound healing activities (Ali et al., 2020).
1.3 AIM OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study is the production of healing balm using Moringa oliefera
as an active ingredient.
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH
The overall objective of this research is to produce a healing balm using
Moringa oliefera as an active ingredient.
Specifically, this study seeks to:
1. Evaluate and present the scientific evidence pertaining to the wound healing
potential of M. oleifera
2. Produce a healing balm using Moringa oliefera as an active ingredient.
1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY
This study will be a great assistance to every human , and the medical sector.
It will create awareness on the use of the plant as an active ingredient in the
production of healing balm.
This study would also contribute significantly to the study and understanding
of the general public on the importance of Moringa oliefera.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study (Production of healing balm using Moringa oliefera as an active
ingredient) will be carried out in Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-uku.
