Wound Healing Efficacy of Herbal Preparations of Croton bonplandianum Baill. on Excision Wound in Experimental Rats

Background: Croton bonplandianum is an important medicinal plant and widely used in Indian system of medicine to heal cuts and wounds. However, systematic evaluation of wound healing activity of C. bonplandianum is lacking. Objectives: The present study was aimed to assess the wound healing activity of different parts of C. bonplandianum herbal preparations. Method: Wistar albino rats of both sexes were selected and divided into five groups, viz, untreated control, wounded rats treated with herbal preparations from leaf (CBLf), fruit (CBFt) and latex (CBLx) of C. bonplandianum and α-tocopherol. The collagen content in tissue and wound contraction rate was analysed. The levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and granulation tissue were analysed. Results: The increased levels of collagen content and wound contraction rate were observed in CBLf, CBFt and CBLx treated rats when compared with untreated control group. Increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and reduced level of lipid peroxidation were found in both serum and granulation tissue of wounded rats treated with CBLf, CBFt and CBLx. The wounded rats treated with CBLx showed more antioxidant activity, significant wound contraction rate and higher level of collagen content when compared to CBLf and CBFt treated rats. Conclusion: The results suggested that the CBLx treated rats showed maximum percentage of healing activity than CBLf and CBFt treated rats. The results of this study supported that the traditional claims of C. bonplandianum latex as a wound healer.