ABSTRACT
In recent years, oxidative stress and free radicals have been implicated in impaired wound healing. Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum), a plant widely used in Ayurveda, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study was undertaken to assess the potential of alcoholic and aqueous extracts in wound healing in Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group 1 is normal wounded control and the other four groups were treated with two different doses each of alcoholic and aqueous extract of O. sanctum. The wound healing parameters were evaluated by using incision, excision and dead space wounds in extract-treated rats and controls. Both the doses of alcoholic and aqueous extract significantly increased wound breaking strength, hydroxyproline, hexuronic acid, hexosamines, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and significantly decreased percentage of wound contraction and lipid peroxidation when compared with the control group. The results suggest that O. sanctum has antioxidant properties, which may be responsible and favorable for faster wound healing and this plant extract may be useful in the management of abnormal healing and hypertropic scars.
ABSTRACT
The present study was performed to evaluate the wound healing and antioxidant effect of aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn. (O. sanctum) in rats. Albino rats of either sex were divided into 2 groups. Group I: Wounded control rats; Group II: Wounded rats administered O. sanctum aqueous extract. Wound breaking strength in incision wound model, epithelization period and percent wound contraction in excision wound model were studied. Using dead space wound model, granulation tissue breaking strength, granulation tissue dry weight, hydoxyproline level in dry granulation tissue, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels in wet granulation tissue were estimated in both the groups. Increased wound breaking strength, decreased epithelization period, increased percent wound contraction, increased granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline concentrations were observed. The increased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, catalase level in extract treated group compared to controls. Granulation tissue was subjected to histopathological examination to determine the pattern of lay-down for collagen using Haematoxylin and Eosin stains which confirm the results. Owing to wound healing and antioxidant activities, O. sanctum may be useful in the management of abnormal healing such as keloids and hypertrophic scars.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Catalase/physiology , Ocimum , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Superoxide Dismutase/physiology , Wound Healing/drug effects , Animals , Collagen/metabolism , Female , Male , Oxidative Stress , RatsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the wound-healing properties of crude bark extract of Jatropha curcas Linn in Wistar albino rats. METHODS: This work was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India, in the year 2005. We divided the animals into 3 groups of 12 each. Group I was saline control without wound, group II was animals treated with JC extract in the dose of 2 ml/kg body weight with wound and group III was animals treated with 4 ml/kg body weight with wound. The wound healing parameters like wound breaking strength, epithelization period, percent wound contraction, granulation tissue breaking strength, granulation tissue dry weight, hydroxyproline level and histological features were assessed by using incision, excision and dead space wound models. RESULTS: The results obtained indicated that Jatropha curcas accelerates the healing process by increasing the skin breaking strength, granulation tissue breaking strength, wound contraction, dry granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline levels. A significant decrease in epithelization period was also observed. The histopathological examination of granulation tissue showed much advanced phase of healing, with more collagen, which has organized to form bundles. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that the crude bark extract of Jatropha curcas was very effective in accelerating wound healing process.
Subject(s)
Jatropha , Phytotherapy , Plant Bark , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Preparations/therapeutic use , Wound Healing/drug effects , Animals , Collagen/metabolism , RatsABSTRACT
Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels were estimated in 20 patients each of prostate and colon cancer. Although copper to ceruloplasmin ratio was not significantly altered, copper and ceruloplasmin levels were increased significantly in the cancer patients as compared to controls. Trace elements and free radicals have been implicated in the etiology of cancer. Hence determination of specific antioxidants (like ceruloplasmin) and trace elements (like copper) may be of value in the early diagnosis of prostate and colon cancer.
Subject(s)
Ceruloplasmin/metabolism , Colonic Neoplasms/blood , Copper/blood , Prostatic Neoplasms/blood , Humans , Male , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
The effects of the alcoholic extract of the flowers ofIxora coccinea were studied on some of the antioxidant enzymes in dead space wounds created in rats. Increases in the tensile strength of the wound and in the level of lysyl oxidase, the crucial enzyme for collagen maturation, were observed indicating a definite prohealing action. In addition, a highly significant increase in the levels of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase was observed in the drug-treated group. Thus, the gain in tensile strength may be attributed not only to the better cross-linking but also to the antioxidant properties of the drug.
