Available online at www.ijpsdr.com 340 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research 2015; 7(4): 340-344 Research Article ISSN: 0975-248X CODEN (USA): IJPSPP Wound Healing, Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) Seed Extracts Bassey S. Antia 1* , Emmanuel E. Essien 1 , Jude E. Okokon 2 , Iyiade G. Alalade 1 1 Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria 2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria ABSTRACT The study investigates the wound healing and antimicrobial activities of extracts from Luffa cylindrica (Linn) seeds. The seed extracts (n-hexane, chloroform, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol) were evaluated for wound healing properties in white albino rats using the full thickness skin excision model. Thirty- two female wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups. Animals in the test groups were treated topically with 1 ml of 200mg/ml of the extracts for 17 days post-surgery. The standard and control groups were treated with Neobacin ® powder (neomycin and bacitracin) and sterile distilled water respectively. Significant (P<0.05) wound contractions were observed across the groups. Diethyl ether extract had the most prominent wound healing activity while chloroform was least active. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the methanol seed extract administered intraperitoneally in wistar albino mice was found to be 24.5 mg/kg. Different concentrations of the various extracts of L. cylindrica seeds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against selected wound pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Candida albicans) using agar well diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of each were determined. The seed extracts were active against gram positive, gram negative and fungus; the M.I.C. of various extracts of seeds extracts range from 0.04-0.6 g/ml. Furthermore, phytochemical studies revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, deoxy-sugar, terpenes, phlobatannins and alkaloid. The way the different extracts functioned on the selected wound pathogens depended on the phytochemicals present in the extract. Keywords: Luffa cylindrica, wound healing, antimicrobials, excision wound model, agar well diffusion. INTRODUCTION Plant-derived substances have recently become of great interest owing to their versatile applications. Medicinal plants are the richest bio-resource of drugs of traditional systems of medicine, modern medicines, neutraceuticals, food supplements, folk medicines, pharmaceutical intermediates and clinical entities for *Corresponding author: Dr. B. S. Antia, Department of Chemistry, University of Uyo, Akwa- Ibom, Nigeria; E-mail: antiabassey@yahoo.com Received: 30 April, 2015; Accepted: 08 June, 2015 synthetic drugs. [1] Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) (Smooth loofah or sponge gourd) is an annual climbing plant that belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is an herbaceous plant and thrives commonly with twining tendrils. [2] The fruit has a network of fibres surrounding a large number of flat blackish seeds. In traditional medical practice, the fruits are reported to have anthelmintic, carminative, laxative, depurative, emollient, expectorant, tonic and galactogogue effects. [3-4] Earlier studies have shown that the plant possesses a number of medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory [5] , anaesthetic,