Abstract

The process of delayed wound-healing and unhealed wounds can cause serious problems to the patients. In this context it is revealed that the scientists are looking for herbal treatment of wounds, as the remedy is known for having less or minimum undesired effects. Schima wallichii is a lesser known traditional medicinal plant used by certain section of people in Assam, India as a healing agent; however, record on scientific validation of its wound-healing potential is not available. Therefore, an in vivo study was undertaken to evaluate the wound-healing efficacy of the leaves of the plant using excision wound model in Swiss albino mice. The animals were divided into three groups after creating the wounds, namely control, positive control and treated groups. On application of methanolic crude extract of the leaves of Schima wallichii, it was observed that the epithelialization period was lesser and the rate of closure of wounds was faster in the extract treated group when compared with the control group indicating that the application of the extract has accelerated the healing process in the extract treated group. The concentration of protein, Schima wallichii deoxyribonucleic acid and hydroxyproline were also found to be augmented in the treated group than the control suggesting faster rate of healing as deoxyribonucleic acid and protein content in the healing tissues serve as indicator of protein synthesis and cellular proliferation. The above results were supported by the histological and ultra-structural observations as scanning electron microscopy revealed smoother surface topography, H and E staining revealed thicker epithelial layer in the treated animals. Van Gieson′s staining showed higher level of collagen in the extract treated group validating biochemical observation where higher concentration of hydroxyproline was found in treated group compared to the control. Thus, going by the results obtained in the study it can be concluded that the leaves of the plant possess wound-healing potential.