ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Curcuma longa, Cleome gynandra, Triticum aestivum, Vitis vinifera L - Black Raisins (Zante Currants) and brown raisins (Sultanas) for in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and wound healing activity. Methods: The free radical scavenging activity was studied in vitro by measuring DPPH, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and total antioxidant assays of these plant extracts. Antibacterial activities were evaluated against five microorganisms using agar well diffusion method. The wounds were created on the skin of the rabbits by crushing the Paederus fuscipes beetles and applying the pederin which produced inflammation and wound after two days. Results: Antibacterial activities were evaluated against five microorganisms in which A. indica, C. longa, T. bellirica, E. officinalis and T. chebula showed significant activity with a MIC of 1.562 mg/ml, 3.125 mg/ml respectively. The plant extracts of brown raisins Vitis vinifera, A. indica, T. bellirica, E. officinalis and T. chebula showed remarkable antioxidant activity. The topical application of individual and combination of plant extracts on wounds caused significantly faster healing (83%) in wound area as compared to the commercial ointment (76.6%). Conclusions: This results shows that the combination of these plant extracts possess effective wound healing properties due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities by possessing the active compounds such as flavonoids (polyphenols), terpenes, alkaloids, saponins.