N Jabeen, R Khanum, S Shakuat, S Mehmood and M Gulfraz
Keywords: Euphorbia helioscopia, phytochemicals, alternative medicine, wound healing.
Abstract: The wound healing effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Euphorbia helioscopia was studied on incision, excision and dead space models of wound in rats. After application of both extracts it was observed that the area of epithelialisation increased, followed by an increase in wound contraction, skin breaking strength, tissue granulation, dry weight and hydroxylproline contents. Histopathological studies of the granulation tissue also indicated that there was an increase in collagen formation in those rats treated with the ethanol extract, compared to the control group animals. The ethanol extract was more effective than the aqueous extract, but both showed significant results, compared to the control. Results indicate that plant extracts are an interesting source of phytochemicals that are effective against different phases of wounds.
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