Expression of E-Cadherin in Epidermis from Wounds Treated with Costus afer Stem Juice Extract

Abstract

Akpan Udo Ekanem and Kudighe Patrick Udoh

This study investigated the expression of e-cadherin in the epidermis of re-epithelialized wound treated with Costus afer stem juice extract. Twenty-five adult female albino rats were used for the study. They were divided equally into 5 treatment groups of: A – no treatment; B – iodine treatment only on the first day; C – iodine treatment for 7 days; D – Costus afer stem juice extract only on the first day; and E – Costus afer stem juice extract for 7 days. The rats were aseptically wounded on their dorsum under ketamine hydrochloride anaesthesia. They were treated according to their groups and closely monitored till the wounds healed. On healing, the rats were euthanized and samples of the healed skin were collected and processed for immunohistochemical staining using antibodies for e-cadherin. It was found that group D showed highest intensity of e-cadherin expression among the treatment groups, suggesting the influence of Costus afer stem juice extract on the process of mesenchymal-epithelial transition.

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