Methods: Aqueous extract of N. sativa was prepared in the form of a decoction and tested for its ability to enhance the closure of wound made by scratching a monolayer of HGF cells. The closure of wound was based on the number of cell covering the scratch area. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was used as a control in this test. The amount of collagen synthesised by the extract-treated fibroblasts was indicated by the concentration of hydroxyproline produced.
Results: 50% of cell increase was enumerated at 42 hrs of incubation by the extract-treated fibroblasts. A more effective activity was observed for the bFGF-treated fibroblasts whereby 83% of cell increase was recorded at similar incubation period. The collagen promoting activity of N. sativawas however not significant.
Conclusions: N. sativa extract exhibited effective wound closure activity by promoting the proliferation of fibroblasts to close the wound. This extract however did not significantly promote the production of collagen by the fibroblasts.