Upendra Kumar

Enhancement of wound healing with roots of Ficus racemosa L. in albino rats

OBJECTIVE To establish the wound healing activity of aqueous and ethanolic extract of roots of Ficus racemosa (F. racemosa). METHODS Two models were performed to evaluate the wound healing activity i.e. incision and excision models. In incision model the parameter which was carried out was breaking strength of wounded skin. In excision model percentage wound contraction and period of epithelialization were established for both the extracts. Reference standard drug was povidone iodine ointment for comparison with other groups. RESULTS From the observation in both two models, aqueous extract of F. racemosa was found to have greater wound healing activity in terms of breaking strength in incision model and percentage wound contraction, period of epithelialization in excision model than that of other groups. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our findings suggest that aqueous extract of F. racemosa possesses better wound healing ability than the ethanolic extract.

Healing promoting potentials of roots of Ficus benghalensis L. in albino rats.

OBJECTIVE To screen the wound healing activity of aqueous and ethanolic extract of roots of Ficus benghalensis. METHODS Both the extracts were evaluated for wound healing by three modelsie. incision, excision and dead space wound. In incision and dead space the extracts were applied daily topically till the 10 th post wounding days while in excision model it was till the complete epithelialization process. Standard group were administered Povidone iodine ointment topically daily. The breaking strength, percentage of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, dry granulation weight and hydroxyproline content were observed. RESULTS The result of the present study showed that both extracts were able to increase the breaking strength (incision model), decrease period of epithelialization, increase percentage wound contraction (excision model), increase hydroxyproline content (Dead space wound model) significantly compared with control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Based on result we conclude that aqueous extract is more effective than ethanolic extract. However, it is needed more research to be carried out especially on toxicity studies of ethanolic extract.