Ancient Science of Life, Vol. 28, No.4 (2009) Pages 36 - 37

Wound healing properties of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam

Abstract: The studies on excision wound healing model reveals significant wound healing activity Nilesh Gupta1 of the methanolic leaf extract (simple ointmetn5%) of “Artocarpus heterophyllus” Lam which is U.K. Jain2 comparable with standard (Betadine). In the excision model, the period of epithelization, of the A.K. Pathak1 extract treated group was found to be higher than the control group and slightly lesser than standard treated group of animals on the up to 16th post wounding day.

Introduction greenish-black coloured stickly residue (yield- Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam (Moraceae) is a 10% w/w with respect to dry material). The dried large tropical tree and is indigenous to India and extract (residue) was mixed with ointment I.P. and popularly known as Jack tree1 . The leaves are used directly over the wounds during the study. simple, alternate, coriaceous, entire dark, shiny green above oblong, oval or eliptic in form, 4 to 6 Animal used inches in length, glabrous, hairless with smooth Male Albino mice weighing between 35 to 40g skinned surface2 . The leaves show the presence of supplied by Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital sapogenin, cycloaratenone, cycloartenol, β- and Research Centre, Bhopal were used for the sitosterols and tannins3. The leaves are reported to study. The animals were given food and water ad be used in skin diseases and ash of leaves is usefull libitum. in healing ulcer. The leaves are also useful in fever, boils, wound, skin diseases and vitiated condition Wound healing evaluation of pitta and vata4 . The seeds of the ripe fruits are Screening for wound healing activity was used as vegetable and believed to have rich performed by excision wound model. The hairs on nutritional values5 . In the present investigation, the the skin of white surface of animals were removed wound healing effects of the methanolic extract of by using a suitable depilatory (Anne-French hair leaves was investigated on albino mice using removing cream). The selected animals were excision wound models. divided into three groups of six in each. All the test samples were applied topically6 . Plant Material The plant Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam, was Excision Wound Model authenticated by the Department of Pharmacy, Circular wounds of approximately 10mm Barkatullah University, Bhopal. Fresh leaves were diameter were inflicted on the cleared skin by collected in bulk from young matured plants from cutting under mild Xylocain 4% topical the rural belf of surroundings of Bhopal District anesthesia. The areas of the wounds were (M.P.). During early summer, washed, shade dried measured (sq. mm) immediately by using vernier and then milled into coarse powder by a calipers. This was taken as the initial wound area mechanical grinder and uses when required for the reading. study.

1 Preparation of extract Department of Pharmacy Barkatullah The powder plant material was extracted in a University, Bhopal (M.P.) 462026 soxhlet extracter with methanol. The methanolic 2Principal, Bhopal Institutes of Technology and extract was collected in tared conical flask; the Science-Pharmacy, Bangrasia, Bhopal. solvent was removed by distillation which gave a

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Effect of Topical Application of Artocarpus heterphyllus Lam on Excision Wounds Table :- 1 Period of epithelization of post wounding day

Wound area mm2 S.N Treatment No of 3rd Day 7th Day 10th Day 13th Day 16th Day Animals Mean ± Mean ± Mean ± Mean ± Mean SD SD SD SD ± SD 1 Control 6 61.78 ± 49.47 ± 39.70 ± 20.49 ± 18.83 ± 10.63 10.32 10.31 10.65 10.03 2 Standard 6 47.6 ± 33.37 ± 4.96 ± 2.55 0.37 ± 0.02 ± 13.11 17.69 0.47* 0.04** 3 Treated 6 55.44 ± 34.53 ± 14.61 ± 4.77 ± 0.525 ± (drug) 10.24 8.04 420 2.39* 1.05**

(mean ± SEM, n = 6) expressed as period of epithelization in each group on the post wounding day* P<0.05, **P<0.001 vs. control. Group-I animals served as negative control, which literature that is comparable with Betadine. received ointment I.P. Group-II served as positive control to which betadine (5% w/w in ointment Acknowledgement I.P.) was applied topically. Group-III animals were The authors are thankful to the Head Department treated with the extract (5% w/w) in a similar of Pharmacy, Barkatullah University, Bhopal for manner. All the test samples were applied once providing necessary facilities to carry out the daily. The wound area of each animal was present research work. measured on 1st , 3 rd , 7 th , 10 th , 13 th and 16th post wounding day. References (1)“The Wealth of India”, CSIR, New Delhi. 123, Statistical Analysis (1948). Result were analysed by Student's t-test. The (2)Prajapati, Narayan, Das Purohit, S.S. Sharma, minimum level of significance was fixed at Arun, K., Kumar, Tarun. A Hand Book of p<0.05. Medicinal Plants, 69-70, (2003). (3)Nodig Shbha, S., and Gurumadhava Rao, S., Results and Discussion Effect of - an indigenous formulation on wound The studied on excision wound healing model healing in rats, Indian Drug, 36 (12), 731-734, reveales that all the three groups showed decrease (1993). wound area from day to day. However, on 16th post (4)Fernando, M.R., Thabrew, M.I., Studies on the wounding day, control animals group-I showed possible toxicity of Artocarpus heterophyllus 18.83 ± 10.03 of wound area (which may be due to Lam, Ceylon Journal of Medical Science, 32 (1), self immunity of the animals) whereas group-II 1-7, (1989). betadine treated animal, showed 0.02 ± 0.04 (5)Chadha, Y.B., The Wealth of India: A wound area and the treated group-III exhibited Dictionary of Indian Raw Material and Industrial 0.525 ± 1.05 wound area. When compared with the controls, the activity of extract was found to be highly significant (P<0.001). Products, I. (A), 444-455, (1985). (6) Ghosh, T., Dash, G.K., Wound healing In studies using excision wound model, animal properties of Argemone mexicana Linn, Indian treated with methanol extract of Artocorpus Journal of Natural Products, 20 (4), 3-6, (2004). heterophyllus Lam showed significant decrease in (7)Nagoji, K.E.V., Rao, S.S., Studies on epithelization period, epithelization was found to nutritional aspects of Artocarpus heterophyllus be enhanced significantly (P<0.001), increase Lam. seeds, Indian Journal of Natural Products, 15 wound contraction, as compared to control. The (2), 14-17, (1999). above findings justify the wound healing (8)Kokate, C.K., Practical Pharmacognosy 3rd properties of the leaves as suggested in the folklore

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