Thursday August 2, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) - The leaves of Aspilia africana, also known as the hemorrhage plant, have been used in African traditional medicine to stop bleeding; inhibit infection; and speed healing of wounds.   The therapeutic effects have been confirmed by researchers from Nigeria who published their study in the July 10, 2007 issue of BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

"A. africana, which is widespread in Africa, is used in traditional medicine to stop bleeding from wounds, clean the surfaces of sores, in the treatment of rheumatic pains, bee and scorpion stings and for removal of opacities and foreign bodies from the eyes," the researchers write in their report.

Dr. Charles O. Okoli and colleagues at the University of Nigeria tested in lab and animal experiments three preparations of the powdered leaves of this plant, an extract in methanol and two fractions in hexane or methanol.

All three preparations significantly reduced bleeding and clotting time in rats with the methanol fraction having the strongest effect, the researchers report.

These preparations also effectively slowed the growth of Pseudomonas flurescens and Staphylococcus aureus, which commonly infect wounds, and they also promote wound healing, according to the study.   Again the methanol fraction was most effective at stopping bacterial growth and shortening healing time.

Okoli and colleagues analyzed the preparations and found the preparations were full of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, resins, sterols, terpenoids and carbohydrates.

They concluded "the results of this study indicate that extracts of leaves of A. Africana have good potentials for use in wound care and further provide a rationale for the use of the leaves of this plant in wound management in traditional medicine practice."

Source:

Okoli CO, Akah PA, Okoli AS.

Potentials of leaves of Aspilia africana (Compositae) in wound care: an experimental evaluation.

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007 Jul 10;7(1):24