Study of wound healing activity of aqueous and alcoholic bark extracts of Acacia catechu on rats

Abstract

A B S T R A C T In this study wound healing activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of bark of Acacia catechu (Fabaceae) was evaluated. This plant is common in the forests of India and Burma. It is used as a mouthwash for mouth, gum, sore throat, gingivitis, dental and oral infections. It is useful in cough, diarrhea, ulcers, boils and eruptions of the skin. . Successive extraction of bark of A. catechu was carried out using different solvents viz., alcohol and water. Results confirm the presence of phytoconstituents like glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, saponins, phytosterols, tannins, gums in the acacia catechu bark. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Acacia catechu bark in the form of an ointment with two different concentrations (2% and 4% w/w) were evaluated for wound healing potential in excision wound model, incision model and dead space wound model in rats. The aqueous extract of Acacia catechu at 4% w/w in both excision and incision wound models showed significant th wound healing activity. In excision model contraction of wound area (P < 0.001) at 16 day was (98 ± 0.2583), time for complete epithelization was significant (18.17 ± 0.307) and breaking strength was significant at (566.8 ± 3.902) in incision model rats. In dead space wound model both AQEAC 400mg/kg and ALEAC 400mg/kg doses showed significant increase in hydroxyproline content (4.107 ± 0.068, 4.020 ± 0.093), breaking strength (502.5 ± 5.524, 495.2 ± 7.418) and the tissue dry weight was found significant at (236.7 ± 11.16, 208.3 ± 17.78). The enhanced wound healing activity may be due to antimicrobial activity and anti inflammatory activity of the phytoconstituents present, which may be due to their individual or additive effect fastens the process of wound healing.