Evaluation of wound healing activity of root of Mimosa pudica

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Abstract

Ethno pharmacological relevance

Mimosa pudica, commonly known as touch-me-not, is used in folklore medicine in arresting bleeding and in skin diseases.

Aim

There was no scientific evidence justifying the use of Mimosa pudica, therefore the present study was aimed at evaluation of wound healing activity of the plant.

Materials and methods

In the present study the roots of Mimosa pudica were studied for wound healing activity by incorporating the methanolic and the total aqueous extract in simple ointment base B.P. in concentration of 0.5% (w/w), 1% (w/w) and 2% (w/w). Wound healing activity was studied in three types of model in rats viz. excision, incision and estimation of biochemical parameter. In case of the excision wound model wound contraction and period of epithelization was studied while in incision wound model was evaluated by determining tensile strength and hydroxyproline content in the scab.

Results

Treatment of wound with ointment containing 2% (w/w) the methanolic and 2% (w/w) the total aqueous extract exhibited significant (P < 0.001) wound healing activity. The methanolic and total aqueous extracts were analyzed for total phenols content equivalent to Gallic acid. The content of total phenols was 11% (w/w) and 17% (w/w) in methanolic and total aqueous extract respectively.

Conclusion

The methanolic extract exhibited good wound healing activity probably due to phenols constituents.

Introduction

Wound is a clinical entity and is as old as mankind, often possesses problem in clinical practice. A lot of research has been envisaged to develop the better healing agents and it has been a challenging task to discover healing agents and keep up pace with problems encountered.

Wound may be defined as a loss or breaking of cellular and anatomic or functional continuity of living tissue. Wound healing or wound repair is the body's natural process of regenerating dermal and epidermal tissue. Wounds can be broadly categorized as having either an acute or a chronic etiology including bites, burns, surgical wound abrasion, laceration or acute inflammatory phase followed by synthesis of collagen and the extracellular macromolecules which are later remolded to form, scar (Deodhar and Rana, 1997).

The process of wound healing occurs in four phases: (i) coagulation, which prevents blood loss, (ii) inflammation and debridement of wound, (iii) repair, including cellular proliferation, and (iv) tissue remodeling and collagen deposition (Puratchikody et al., 2006).

Wound healing involves continuous cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions that allow the process to proceed in three overlapping phases viz. inflammation cellular proliferation and remodeling.

Phase 1 is a coagulation and inflammatory phase (0–3 days) and this involves migration of neutrophils at margin of incision, moving towards the fibrin clot.

Phase 2 is a proliferative phase (3–12 days) in which the neutrophils are largely replaced by the macrophages. Granulation tissue progressively invades the incision space and the incisional space is filled with granulation tissue. Collagen fibrils become more abundant and begin to bridge the incision.

Phase 3 is a remodeling phase (3–6 months), involving continuous accumulation of collagen and proliferation of fibroblasts. There is marked reduction in leukocyte infiltration and edema. The phase involves synthesis of collagen fibers, leading to increase in tensile strength of the skin (Cotran et al., 1997).

Healing requires the collaborative efforts of many different tissues and cell lineages. It involves platelet aggregation and blood clotting, formation of fibrin, an inflammatory response to injury, alteration in the ground substances, angiogenesis and re-epithelialization. Healing is not complete until the disrupted surfaces are firmly knit by collagen (Govindrajan et al., 2007).

Medicinal plants have been used since time immemorial for treatment of various ailments of skin and dermatological disorders especially cuts, wounds and burns (Govindrajan et al., 2007).

Mimosa pudica, commonly known as Lajjalu (Hindi), is called as a sensitive plant/touch-me-not in English. It is an annual or perennial herb belonging to family Mimosaceae. Mimosa pudica has been reported to contain mimosine (an alkaloid), free amino acids, β-sitosterol, linoleic acid and oleic acid. The drug is also found to be rich in tannins and the total tannin content was reported to be 10% (w/w) (Nadkarni, 1927).

The root of Mimosa pudica is reported to be used in the form of decoction in gravel and other similar urinary complaints and diseases arising from corrupt blood and bile (Nadkarni, 1927). The root is also stated to have anti-convulsant activity (E NgoBum et al., 2004). Successive extracts of the whole plant are reported to have antibacterial activity (Pawaskar and Kale, 2006). In preliminary screening of Mimosa pudica extract was found to exhibit anti-venom activity against common sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa) poisoning. Prashanth et al. (2007) screened the root of Mimosa pudica for acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity and it was found that the roots have acetylcholine esterase inhibitory activity.

Ayurveda reports utility of Mimosa pudica in arresting bleeding and enhancing wound healing process, however, the literature survey revealed that no systematic study had been carried out on wound healing activity. Hence, in the present study, an effort was made to establish wound healing potential of the plant using different models.

Section snippets

Materials

The root of Mimosa pudica was procured from local market of Mumbai, and was authenticated at Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, by carrying out macroscopic and microscopic evaluation. The voucher specimen of the same has been deposited (voucher specimen no. R-083)

Preparation of the root extract

The air-dried crude drug was pulverized to obtain coarse powder. The total aqueous extract was prepared by decoction method with drug:distilled water in ratio of 1:5 (yield: 14.42%, w/w). The powdered drug was defatted by extracting

Phytochemical analysis

Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed presence of tannins especially hydrolysable tannins and alkaloids. The presence of alkaloid was confirmed by performing TLC and spraying with Dragendorff's reagent. The presence of hydrolysable tannins was confirmed by performing co-TLC of the hydrolyzed extracts on Silica Gel GF 254 as stationary phase; ethyl acetate:toluene:methanol:formic acid (3:3:0.2:0.8) as mobile phase and Gallic acid as the reference standard. The TLC analysis revealed the

Conclusion

The basic principle of optimal wound healing is to minimize tissue damage and provide an adequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation, proper nutrition and moist wound healing environment to restore the anatomical continuity and function of the affected part.

The result of excision wound model indicate that in the first 4 days there is no significant increase in the wound contraction in all the groups as compared to the control group. The results of the 8th day indicate that there is significant

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