Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: The present study was carried out to evaluate the wound healing efficacy of a herbal ointment formulated with Madhuca indica L., Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., Calendula officinalis Linn. and Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn. embedded in an ointment base and used to treat incisions, excisions and burn wounds in an albino rat model. The rats were Wistar strain weighing 150-200 g which were divided into 9 groups each of 6 rats. Groups I, IV and VII served as wounded controls, Groups II, V and VIII were wounded and treated with Polyherbal Ointment (PHO) topically. The wound healing effect was evaluated in comparison with a reference ointment Soframycin, for excisions (Group III) and incisions (Group VI) and Burnol (Group IX) for burn wounds. The Polyherbal ointment (PHO) treated group showed a faster rate of wound contraction compared with the control groups. Topical application of the Polyherbal ointment in treated groups produced a significant increase (P<0.05) in wound breaking strength, hydroxyproline, hexosamine, protein, DNA, RNA and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels. It also significantly reduced the level of Lipid peroxide (LPO) when compared with the control groups. Histological studies of the tissue from the PHO treated group showed increased and well organized bands of collagen, more fibroblasts and fewer inflammatory cells when compared with the control groups. These results strongly support the belief that the Polyherbal ointment (PHO) has antioxidant properties which may be responsible for and promote faster wound healing in rats at an effective topical dosage. Hence PHO is an economical option for wound treatment.

Key words: wound healing, Polyherbal ointment, Incision, Excision, Burn.