Evaluation of wound healing activity of Acacia caesia in rats

Abstract

Abstract Acacia caesia (L.) is a leguminous perennial climbing shrub belonging to the family Mimosaceae, and is native to south-east Asia. Despite the traditional practice of using the bark juice for wound healing there is no scientific report on the wound healing properties of this plant. Ethno pharmacologically the bark of A. caesia has significant prohealing activity. The higher levels of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and saponins noted in the bark extracts of A. caesia could be responsible for the medicinal properties of this plant. Secondary metabolites that serve as the defensive agents are produced under stressed condition by the plants. Wound healing activity of A. caesia bark ethanolic extract were investigated by excision and incision wound healing models in Wistar male rats in comparison with reference standard Betadine. Wounds treated with topical application of 5% W/W A. caesia ethanolic extract were found to heal faster as evidenced by observing the rate of epithelialization and percentage of wound contraction. The increase in tensile strength of treated wounds may be due to the increase in collagen and synthesis of new extracellular matrix molecules Hexosamine and Uronic acid, which acts as a ground substratum. Tensile strength was doubled in 5% W/W A. caesia ethanol extract treated tissue. Wound tissues formed on days 4, 8, 12 and 16 were used to estimate DNA, total protein, total collagen, hexosamine and uronic acid. It is observed in ACEE treated groups that the amount of protein, hexosamine, collagen and uronic acid increased from day 4 to day 12 and thereafter there was a gradual decrease until the 16th day.