Preprint / Version 1

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Wound Healing Effects of Alcoholic and Aqueous Extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn in Rats

Authors

  • Somashekar Shetty Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, 2Department of Biochemistry, KMC International Centre and 3Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576104, India
  • Saraswati Udupa Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, 2Department of Biochemistry, KMC International Centre and 3Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576104, India
  • Laxminarayana Udupa Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, 2Department of Biochemistry, KMC International Centre and 3Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal 576104, India

Keywords:

antioxidant property, Ocimum sanctum, wound healing activity

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. Keywords: antioxidant property, Ocimum sanctum, wound healing activity

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