Wound Healing Activity of Calotropis Gigantea Leaves in Albino Wistar Rats

Calotropis gigantea Linn. (Asclepiadaceae) a widely growing plant has been reported to possess number of medicinal properties. It has been reported as a traditional folk medicine for a variety of alignments. The plant C. gigantea is also used in some parts of India for wound healing in combination with other plants. However there are no scientific reports on wound healing activity of the plant C.gigantea. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate scientifically the wound healing activity of Petroleum ether, Benzene, Chloroform, Methanol and Aqueous extract of leaves of the plant C.gigantea by excision and incision wound healing models in rats. Wistar albino rats of either sex weighing between 160 and 200 g were topically treated with extracts was applied once daily in excision wound model. C.gigantea leaves extracts were given orally at a dose of 200mg/kg and 180 mg/kg (methanol extract) in incision wound healing model. Rats of standard groups were treated with 5% Povidone iodine ointment topically. The percentage wound closure; epithelization time, hydroxyproline content and scar area on complete epithelization were measured. Topical application of methanolic extract of C.gigantea leaves in excision wound model increased significantly the percentage of wound contraction by 12 th day, i.e. 70.11±0.54 compared with control 45.09±0.53. Scar area and epithelization time were decreased from 21.56 to12.56 days when compared with control. In incision wound model breaking strength of wounds and hydroxyproline was increased significantly from 125.48±0.78 in control up to 321±0.99 with methanolic extract. Hence, the methanolic extract of C.gigantea leaves accelerated wound healing activity in rats and thus supports its traditional use.