Wound Healing Activity of Gel Formulated Leaves Extract of Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb) Bosser

Background: Wound occurs when integrity of the skin is compromised. Healing of wounds occur in various phases namely hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, granulation, contracture remodelling. Neolamarckia cadamba leaves had been used by the tribal people for the treatment of wounds. Objectives: To formulate a gel of Neolamarckia cadamba which contains carbopol 934 as a gelling agent and to determine its wound healing activity by topical application of gel of Neolamarckia cadamba on surgically induced wounds in Swiss albino mice. Materials and Methods: To study the wound healing properties, free radical scavenging activity by DPPH, nitric oxide, total phenolic content estimation, antibacterial activity, excision and incision studies and histopathology were done. Ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic leaves extract of Neolamarckia cadamba (EAFNC) was applied topically as a 2% gel. Percentage of wound contraction and tensile strength was determined in excision and incision wound model respectively. Results: The animals treated with EAFNC showed significant percentage inhibition of nitric oxide and DPPH as compared to ascorbic acid. Antibacterial activity of EAFNC against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also seen. Also, there was increase in wound contraction on 12th post wounding day (81.33 ± 0.574), tensile strength (4.645 ± 0.1345). Histopathology of regenerated skin of EAFNC showed prominent collagen networks, mononuclear cells and fibroblasts. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic leaves extract of Neolamarckia cadamba (EAFNC) showed significant increase in wound healing activity validating its use by the tribal people.