Wound healing activity of topical gel containing methanol extract of Salvadora persica Linn. stem on fresh wounds in rats

Salvadora persica Linn, commonly known as Miswak, has been reported to have anti-microbial, anti-plaque, analgesic, anti-inflammatory properties. Aqueous extract of Salvadora persica stem exhibited wound healing activity in burn wound in rabbits. The stem bark was also found to have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities which are supportive for the wound healing process. Therefore the present study was aimed at evaluation of wound healing activity of extracts prepared from stem bark.

The methanol extract of stem of Salvadora persica Linn was prepared by Soxhlet extraction and a topical gel was formulated by incorporating methanol extract in a suitable gelling agent. Wound healing activity of this gel was studied in two models in rat's viz., excision, incision wound models. Povidone iodine was used as a standard.

The results indicated that the wounds treated with gel containing 5% w/w methanolic extract exhibited a statistically significant decrease in the period of epithelialization and increase in tensile strength (P < 0.001) when compared with control indicating a remarkable wound healing activity. The results were also comparable to the standard drug, povidone iodine in terms of percent epithelialization, tensile strength. Thus, a topical gel formulation containing methanol extract of stem of Salvadora persica Linn. was successfully prepared and evaluated. The gel exhibited excellent wound healing activity on fresh wound in rats.