Evaluating the synergistic antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Kapok banana peel (Musa acuminata balbisiana colla) and Bay leaf (Syzygium polyanthum) extract gel formulation on wound healing

The body's natural healing mechanisms rely significantly on substances that enhance tissue regeneration. Rapid growth of new skin cells can considerably accelerate wound healing. This study investigates the effectiveness of gel formulations derived from Saba banana peel (Musa acuminata balbisiana Colla) and bay leaf (Syzygium polyanthum) extracts as anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents. Utilizing a true-experimental posttest-only control group design, we evaluated three different gel formulations: F1 (25% banana peel extract : 75% bay leaf extract), F2 (50% banana peel extract : 50% bay leaf extract), and F3 (75% banana peel extract : 25% bay leaf extract). Twenty white rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into five groups, each subjected to standardized incision wounds. Treatments were administered three times daily over a seven-day observation period, with wound healing assessed by measuring incision length. Formulation F1 demonstrated notable antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus. Conversely, formulation F3 (75% banana peel : 25% bay leaf) exhibited superior wound healing performance, achieving an average healing rate of 42.97%, surpassing the positive control group. These findings indicate that gels containing extracts of Saba banana peel and bay leaf possess significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and effectively enhance wound healing in animal models.