Wound healing properties of Carica papaya latex: in vivo evaluation in mice burn model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Carica papaya is traditionally used to treat various skin disorders, including wounds. It is widely used in developing countries as an effective and readily available treatment of various wounds, particularly burns. THE AIM OF THE STUDY This study was aimed at investigating the healing efficiency of papaya latex formulated as 1.0 and 2.5% hydrogels. MATERIALS AND METHODS Burns were induced in Swiss albino mice divided into five groups as following; Group-I (negative control) received no treatment. Group-II was treated with Carbopol 974P NF empty gel. Groups-III and -IV were treated with Carbopol gel containing 1.0 and 2.5% of dried papaya latex, respectively. Group-V (positive control) received the standard drug (silver sulphadiazine and chlorhexidine gluconate cream). The efficacy of treatment was evaluated based on the hydroxyproline content, wound contraction and epithelialization time. RESULTS Hydroxyproline content was found to be significantly increased in the Group-III. Significant increase in percentage wound contraction was observed from day 12 in Group-IV and from day 20 in Groups-III and -V. The epithelialization time was found to be the shortest in Group-IV. CONCLUSION It may be concluded that papaya latex formulated in the Carbopol gel is effective in the treatment of burns and thus supports its traditional use.