Influence of Tinospora cordifolia on wound healing in wistar rats

Abstract

Background: T.cordifolia is widely used in veterinary folk medicine ayurvedic system of medicine. It is known to possess various properties. In a study T.cordifolia promoted wound healing in diabetic patients. However, one study showed that octacosanol content in T.cordifolia possessed anti-angiogenic activity which can hinder wound healing. Therefore, effect of T.cordifolia on wound healing appears to be controversial and there is scarcity of information regarding its effect on wound healing in animal models. Methods: Excision wound, resutured incision wound and dead space wounds were inflicted under light thiopentone anesthesia in male wistar rats (n=6 in each group). Methanol extract of T.cordifolia stem in the dose of 250 mg/kg was administered orally once a day for 10 days in resutured incision (assessed by wound breaking strength), dead space (granuloma dry weight and histopathology of granulation tissue) excision wounds was monitored by planimetry. Data was expressed as mean±SEM and analyzed by student’s t-test. p <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The results of the present study revealed that T.cordifolia significantly promotes wound healing in all the three models viz. enhanced wound contraction and decreased days for complete epithelization in excision wound; increased breaking strength in resutured incision wound; increased granuloma dry weight and cellular infiltration in granulation tissue. Conclusions: T.cordifolia significantly (p<0.05) promoted wound healing in all the three models of wound in male wistar rats.