Journal of Molluscan Research, (JMR) Volume 9, 2022
*Thomas, E.O., Ademolu, K.O., Dedeke, G.A. Adeogun, A.I. and Oropo, O.A
ABSTRACT
Wound infection is one of the critical factors that delay healing. Shell powders of molluscs have been used to treat wounds in Wistar rats. This paper aimed at assessing the wound healing and antimicrobial potentials of powder shells of A. marginata on the wound of rats.
Shells of different developmental stages of snail shells (snailet, juvenile and adult) were pulverized into powder. The shell powders were used as drug to treat a superficial wound of 2 cm by 2 cm incised dorsally on the rats and monitored for five weeks. Rats were divided into six groups and each rat was housed separately. Rats wound were treated with A. marginata powder shells of snailet, juvenile, adult, combination of the three shells and procaine penicillin powder while the control had no therapeutic intervention. Before treatment, the wound area was measured with the aid of digital Vernier caliper and each wound site was carefully swabbed using sterile cotton tipped applicators (Sterilin, U.K) on a weekly basis.
The difference between the groups was evaluated using One-Way analysis of variance. Wounds on rats treated with snailet powder shell and those treated with the combination of powder shells were completely healed after three weeks of treatment compared to rats treated with procaine penicillin powder (PPP). The wounds of rats healed completely as the isolates (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) were finally inhibited in week three for Snailet Powder Shell and Combination of Powder Shell while Procaine Penicillin Powder, Adult Powder Shell, Juvenile Powder Shell and Control closed up completely in week four.
This present study established that Snailet powder shells of A. marginata is a good antimicrobial agent for wound dressing, thereby accelerating healing in rats.
Keywords: wound infection, wound healing, shell powder, antimicrobial, A. marginata.
