RESUMO
Alternanthera brasiliana Kuntze is a neotropical native species used against inflammation, cough and diarrhea etc. Traditionally it is used as hemostatic in north east India, but its excellent wound healing activity in excision, incision, aged, burn, immunocompromised wound were reported by us. Keeping in mind the delayed healing of wound in diabetic patients and its complications, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the healing efficacy of topical application of Alternanthera brasiliana in experimentally induced diabetic wounds in Sprague Dawley rats. The animals were divided into three groups of six animals each. Group I is control, group II is treated with topical application of the extract and group III is used as standard. Prohealing activity was assessed by wound contraction, histopathological study, modulation of enzymatic and non enzymatic parameters. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in wound contraction, augmented levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, hydroxyproline, protein and ascorbic acid level in the treated group as compared to the control group. It can be hypothesized that A. brasiliana favours wound healing in diabetic animals, due to the presence of various phytoconstituents which are known for augmenting healing and its antioxidant activity as well. The study has paved the way for more detailed study of this highly medicinal plant considered as Brazilian penicillin or Joy wood in Brazil.