Wound healing activity of Tamarindus indica Linn. seed and cork ash

Abstract

Introduction: Chincha (Tamarindus indica Linn.) is indicated for the treatment of wounds in Indian system of medicine, however there is no experimental data related to its efficacy in wound healing potential thus the present study was undertaken to evaluate the wound healing potential of the cork and seed ash of Tamarindus indica Linn. in Wistar albino rats. Methods: The excision wound was made on the dorsal side of the rats measuring an area of 2cm. 2The animals were randomly divided into four different groups and treated with group specific drugs for 21 consecutive days. The number of days required for epithelialisation and percentage wound contraction was measured during the experimentation. The hydroxyproline estimation and histopathology was carried out in the healed skin. Results: The test drug treated groups showed significant reduction in the period of epithelialization and percentage wound contraction compared to normal control. The cork ash of Tamarindus indica Linn. has shown considerable increase in the % wound contraction (P<0.01) on 9^th, 12^th,18^th and 21^st ( P<0.05) post wounding day and seed ash has shown considerable increase in the % wound contraction on 18^th(P<0.01) & 21st( P<0.05) day, as compared to control. The hydroxyproline content was increased in T. Indica cork treated group than T. Indica seed. The histopathalogical study revealed almost normal cytoarchitecture and complete re-epithelialization in test drug treated groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that T. indica cork and seed ash has significant wound healing potential and comparatively T. indica cork ash has significant wound healing activity than T. indica seed.