Evaluation of wound healing activity of Solanum nigrum and Periploca aphylla in albino rats

Abstract

Medicine of plant origin is based on the premises that plant contains natural substances, can promote health and alleviate illness. Two plants Periploca aphylla L (family: Asclepiadaceae) and Solanum nigrum L (family: Solanaceae) were used for the current studies to investigate the effects of methanolic extract against wound healing. For this purpose, two animal models i.e excision wound model and incision wound model in albino rats were used. Animals were divided into different groups and the treatment was employed for 20 days according to adopted protocol. The extracts of both plants were applied in the form of ointments prepared accordingly. At the end of the experiment of excision wound model the percentage wound contraction was found by measuring the healed area divided by total are and in incision wound model the tensile strength is calculated by measuring the tensile strength divided by the cross sectional area of the skin. Results of the study showed that the percentage wound contraction was markedly increased from 4th day to 20th day. Moreover, results revealed that the tensile strength was also increased gradually. Tissues of the incision wounded rats were preserved for histopathological analysis. Standard drug treated rats led to reduce polymorphonuclear leukocytes, oedema and necrosis whereas the plants extract treated rats were found to have mild vascular proliferation and reduction of accessory skin structures. Along with these, considerable increase in the dermal collagen content was evident from the histopathological observations. Thus, the wound healing potential of Solanum nigrum and Peirploca aphylla extracts could be justified. Preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and glycosides in both plant extracts. Of which, flavonoids and tannins are already reported to possess wound healing activity so these constituents could possibly be responsible for the activity of Solanum nigrum and Periploca aphylla.