WoundHealing Activity of Dried Skin Extracts of Duttaphrynus melanostictus in a Rat Excision Wound Model

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex biological process involving coordinated phases of haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. Limitations associated with conventional wound therapies, including antimicrobial resistance and delayed tissue regeneration, have prompted the search for alternative bioactive agents from natural sources. Amphibian skin is recognized as a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the wound-healing potential of dried skin extracts of Duttaphrynus melanostictus using an excision wound model in Wistar rats. Dried toad skin was pulverized and successively extracted with dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc). The concentrated extracts were formulated into topical ointments using petroleum jelly as a base. Twenty-five female Wistar rats (150–250 g) were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 5): negative control, positive control (penicillin), DCM extract, EtOAc extract, and vehicle control. Full-thickness excision wounds (8 mm diameter) were created dorsally, and treatments were applied once daily for 16 days. Wound area was measured at four-day intervals, and percentage wound contraction and epithelialization period were determined. Results showed progressive wound reduction in all groups; however, the DCM and EtOAc extract-treated groups demonstrated significantly enhanced wound contraction (P < 0.05) compared to controls. By Day 16, the DCM-treated group exhibited the lowest residual wound area and faster epithelialization. These findings suggest that dried skin extracts of Duttaphrynus melanostictus, particularly the DCM fraction, possess significant wound-healing activity and may serve as promising candidates for alternative wound management therapies.