Journal of Molluscan Research, (JMR) Volume 8, 2022
Author: Thomas, O., Ademola, K.O., Dedeke, G.A. and Adeogun, A.I.
Abstract
Wound healing is the process of repair that follows injury to the skin and other soft tissues. Giant African land snail parts are useful in the treatment of diseases like anemia, hypertension, labor pain constipation, and wound.
This study was aimed at assessing the wound-healing effect of snail shell powder of Archachatina marginata on the wound sizes of rats.
Different developmental stages of snail shells (Snailet, Juvenile, and Adult) were ground into powder and sieved using a 0.1mm pore and used to treat superficial wounds of size 2cm x 2cm incised at the dorsal part of the rats, monitored for 5 weeks.
Rats were divided into six groups housed separately and fed 15g of pelletized feed daily and treated with A. marginata powder shells of snailet, juvenile, adult, the combination of the three shell powder and Procaine Penicillin Powder while the control group was not treated.
Wound sizes were measured weekly using a digital Vernier caliper before redressing. The growth performance and feed intake were examined weekly. Data are expressed as mean± SEM.
The difference between the groups was evaluated using one-way ANOVA. In all cases, P < 0.05 was declared significant. Rats treated with a combination of powder shells (COPS) and Snailet Powder Shell (SPS) had the highest weekly feed intake and body weight compared to rats treated with Procaine Penicillin Powder (PPP) which had the least body weight.
Rat treated with Snailet Powder Shell (SPS) had the fastest reduction in wound size (0.17±0.12cm length and 0.15±1.33cm breadth) compared to other treatments in week 2.
All wounds closed at week 3 in rats treated with SPS and COPS while rats treated with Adult Powder Shell (APS), Juvenile Powder Shell (JPS), Procaine Penicillin Powder (PPP), and control closed at weeks 4 and 5. This present study established that Snailet powder shell (SPS) heals rat wounds faster compared to Procaine Penicillin Powder.
Keywords: Wound healing, Shell powder, Snailet, Wistar rats, Archachatina marginata
