Wound healing and antimicrobial potential of Carissa spinarum Linn. in albino mice

Abstract

Carissa spinarum Linn. (Apocynaceae), popularly known as Jungle karunda, has been traditionally used as wound healing agent. To investigate in vivo wound healing and antimicrobial properties of methanolic extract of Carissa spinarum. The effect of methanolic extract of Carissa spinarum root extracted by cold maceration was evaluated on burn wound model in mice. The wound healing activity of 1% and 2.5% (w/w) extract was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelization and hydroxyproline content. Histological study of the granulation tissue was carried out to know the extent of collagen formation in the wound tissue. The antimicrobial activity of extract was also studied against the bacterial and fungal strain using agar dilution method. The results showed that Carissa spinarum root extract has significant wound healing activity as evident from the rate of wound contraction and epithelization. Hydroxyproline expressions and histological parameters were also well correlated with the healing pattern observed. Methanolic extract also exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. The present study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of Carissa spinarum in the management of wounds.