article · Phytomedicine Plus
Agricultural waste shells from the oil palm plant, Elaeis guineensis, were evaluated for chemical constituents and wound-healing properties. Methanolic extracts from the discarded shells contained high levels of phenolics, along with flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids. When formulated into topical ointments at varying concentrations and applied to excised wounds in female rats over 21 days, the extracts accelerated healing. Ointments containing 3.0 and 5.0 grammes of extract per 10 grammes of base achieved complete wound closure by day 21, surpassing standard and control treatments. Histological examination showed that the 1.0 and 3.0 gramme formulations stimulated significant increases in collagen fibres and fibroblast cells. However, the highest concentration caused cellular necrosis and mild epidermal degeneration by the end of the trial, identifying the intermediate concentration as the most effective and safe formulation in this model.
Discarded oil palm shells are generated in vast quantities and are typically treated as useless agricultural waste. Demonstrating that these shells contain potent bioactive compounds capable of healing wounds provides an empirical basis for traditional practices. Repurposing this abundant byproduct could reduce environmental waste while offering low-cost raw materials for therapeutic development.
This research could enable the development of topical wound-care ointments derived from upcycled agricultural processing waste. Potential users include pharmaceutical and veterinary manufacturers seeking cost-effective, bio-based active ingredients. Because the findings are derived entirely from early-stage laboratory and animal trials, the technology remains at an early research stage, requiring further toxicity screening, formulation refinement, and clinical testing before any commercial application.
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Background Since historical time, shedloads of Elaeis guineensis Jacquin ( Arecaceae family) shells are being treated as waste, and the wasted shells are occasionally used by village herbalists who believe in the superstition working operation of the shell in the treatment of wounds than its therapeutic actions . Purpose This present study aims to evaluate the phyto-constituents and wound-healing activities of Elaeis guineensis Jacquin methanolic shell extract to objectively establish its therapeutic effectiveness, which was previously misunderstood by village herbalists based on superstition. Study design The as-prepared methanolic shell extract was subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis. The crude extract was formulated into ointment (5.0, 3.0, and 1.0 g/10 g of ointment base) and applied topically on 40 mm (diameter) excised wound in 5 by 5 groups of rats for 21 days. Methods The as collected shell waste was washed, dried, pulverized, and subjected to cold maceration for 72 h using methanol. The concentrated extract was analyzed for phytochemicals and then formulated into an ointment by mixing with the melted ointment base. The resulting ointment was applied topically on an excision wound created under diethyl ether anesthetic. The percentage of wound closure was measured in reference to day zero wound area followed by assessment of histological changes. Results The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids, with the phenolics content being the highest (10.4 ± 0.2 g/100 g) while the alkaloids content was the least (0.81 ± 0.03 g/100 g). It was observed that 100% wound healing was found on the 21st day of the experiment in the excision group treated with 3.0/10 and 5.0 g/10 g when compared to the standard group (98.9%) and control group (97.39%). The percentage wound closure of 18.7% on the 3rd day of the experiment was best in the group treated with 5.0 g/10 g of the ointment base, followed by the group treated with 3.0 g/10 g (17.49% wound closure). The histopathological study revealed a significant increase in collagen fibers and fibroblast cells in the group treated with 1.0/10g and 3.0 g/10 g as compared to the standard and the group treated with 5.0 g/10 g that showed cellular necrosis and mild epidermal degeneration on the 21st day of the experiment. Conclusion Our finding suggests baseline information on the potential use of the waste shell of Elaeis guineensis Jacquin for the treatment and management of wounds in traditional medicine and this is the first report on the use of Elaeis guineensis Jacquin waste shell for wound-healing.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.phyplu.2021.100126
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