Wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Eclipta alba

Abstract

Ethanolic extract of leaves Eclipta alba was evaluated for its wound healing activity in ether anaesthetized Wistar rats at two different doses (150 and 300 mg/kg) using incision, excision, and dead space wound model. Significant increase in skin breaking strength, granuloma breaking strength, wound contraction, hydroxyl proline content and dry granuloma weight and decreased in epithelization period was observed. A supportive study made on granuloma tissue to estimate the levels of catalase and superoxide-dismutase recorded a significant increase in the level of these antioxidant enzymes. Granuloma tissue was subjected to histopathological examination to determine the pattern of lay-down for collagen using Van Gieson and Masson Trichome strains. Enhanced wound healing activity may be due to free radical scavenging action of the plant and the enhanced level of antioxidant enzymes in granuloma tissue. Better collagenation may be because of improved antioxidant studies.

Keywords: Eclipta alba; Ethanolic extract; wound healing activity; free radical scavenging activity