Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), popularly known as Noni, looked at the scientific community because of their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This study explores the potential of Noni to ameliorate inflammation and infection in open infected skin wounds of rats. Fourteen Wistar rats weighing 285±12g were used. The study was done in a group whose open infected skin wounds were treated with topical application formulated nanostructured base hydroalcoholic extract Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) 5mg/mL/Kg (Noni group (N), n=6) and the second group with wounds treated with saline 0.9 % (Control group (C), n=6). A bacteriological exam of the wounds fluid for gram positive and gram-negative bacteria, the tecidual expression of TNFa and IL-1a by immunohistochemical technique, and histological analysis by HE stain were performed. The expression of TNFa could be clearly demonstrated in lower degree in skin wounds treated with Noni (N) than in Saline group (C). In comparison, wound tissue from (N) group displayed leukocyte infiltration significantly lower than that observed in Saline group (C) (p<0.05). Culture results of the samples taken from wound fluid on third post-treatment day revealed wound infection in only one rat of group, where Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter sp were isolated. In the rats whose wounds were treated with Saline (C), polymicrobial infection with more than 100,000 CFU/g was detected in all the wounds. In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, the protective effects of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni) in infected skin wounds were able to reduce infection and have antibacterial action.
