Wound Healing and Antimicrobial Potential of Oroxylum indicum Vent. in Albino Mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Oroxylum indicum Vent. (Bignoniaceae), popularly known as the tree of Damocles, has been traditionally used as wound healing agent. Objective: To investigate in vivo wound healing and antimicrobial properties of methanolic extract of Oroxylum indicum. Material and methods: Partial thickness burn wounds were inflicted upon 5 groups of six animals each. Group I was assigned as control, Group II received the plain ointment base. Groups III and IV were given ointment containing 1% and 2.5% methanolic extract of Oroxylum indicum, respectively. Group-V received the standard drug silver sulphadiazine and chlorhexidine gluconate cream. The parameters observed were rate of wound contraction, epithelization time 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 studied against the bacterial and fungal strain using agar dilution method. Results: The result showed that Oroxylum indicum root bark extract had significant wound healing activity as evident from the rate of wound contraction. Highly significant wound contraction was observed from day 20 onward in groups III, IV and V. The period of epithelization also decreased significantly in groups IV and V. Higher hydroxyproline content in treated groups suggested higher collagen re-deposition than the control group. Finally, histopathology studies conformed wound-healing activity of Oroxylum indicum. Methanolic extract also exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. Conclusion: The present study provides a scientific rationale for the traditional use of Oroxylum indicum in the management of wounds.