Evaluation of antioxidant and wound healing effects of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn in rats

Somashekar Shetty*, Saraswati Udupa, Laxminarayana Udupa

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

193 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In recent years, oxidative stress and free radicals have been implicated in impaired wound healing. Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum), a plant widely used in Ayurveda, possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study was undertaken to assess the potential of alcoholic and aqueous extracts in wound healing in Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group 1 is normal wounded control and the other four groups were treated with two different doses each of alcoholic and aqueous extract of O. sanctum. The wound healing parameters were evaluated by using incision, excision and dead space wounds in extract-treated rats and controls. Both the doses of alcoholic and aqueous extract significantly increased wound breaking strength, hydroxyproline, hexuronic acid, hexosamines, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and significantly decreased percentage of wound contraction and lipid peroxidation when compared with the control group. The results suggest that O. sanctum has antioxidant properties, which may be responsible and favorable for faster wound healing and this plant extract may be useful in the management of abnormal healing and hypertropic scars.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)95-101
Number of pages7
JournalEvidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-03-2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Complementary and alternative medicine

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