Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 27(2), July – August 2014; Article No.
04, Pages: 16-18 ISSN 0976 – 044X
Research Article
Wound Healing Activity of Bark Extracts of Ficus virens on Wistar Albino Rats
1 1 1 2
M.Ramadevi*, N.Sivasubramanian , A. Tamil Selvan , B. Sree Giri Prasad , S. Anbazhagan
1
Teegala Krishna Reddy College of Pharmacy, Medbowli, Meerpet, Hyderabad, AP, India.
2
Surya School of Pharmacy, Villipuram, Tamilnadu, India.
*Corresponding author’s E-mail: ramasiva24@gmail.com
Accepted on: 11-05-2014; Finalized on: 31-07-2014.
ABSTRACT
Ficus virens aiton (Moraceae) which is commonly known as white fig is abundantly distribute throughout India. The present study
was aimed to investigate the wound healing activity by excision wound model to evaluate the wound healing activity of Ficus virens
methanolic extract, prepared as ointment form 10% and applied on Wistar albino rats of either sex. Povidone iodine 5% was used as
standard drug. The healing of the wound was assessed by the rate of wound contraction and period of Epithelialization. Ficus virens
bark extract promoted the wound healing significantly in excision wound model. High rate of wound contraction, decrease in the
period for epithelialisation was observed in animals treated with 10% bark extract ointment when compared to the control group of
animals.
Keywords: Wound healing activity, Ficus virens, Povidone iodine ointment 5%.
INTRODUCTION presence of tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids and
phenolics compounds.
F icus virens (Syn; Ficus infectoria) is a plant belonging
to the genus Ficus and family Moraceae is found in
India, Malaysia and northern Australia.1 Its common
name is white fig and locally in hindi language known as
pilkhan2 investigation of Ficus virens revealed that
Animals
Wistar albino rats of either sex were used for the wound
healing activity GNIP (TKR)/CPCSEA/IAEC/2013/23. They
were housed in standard environmental conditions, fed
phenolics compound form the major photochemical
with standard pellet diet and water ad libitum.
components of the leaves are responsible for the
excellent antioxidant capacity of the extracts3 and the Excision wound model
stem bark of the tree is employed in the indigenous
For excision wound model, animals were divided into
systems of medicine for the variety of purpose like
three groups in each model consisting of six animals as
astringent, antiseptic. It is also used as a inflammatory
follows. Group I - consider as Control and treated with
swellings, boils and wound healing but none of the earlier
Simple ointment. Group II - Ficus virens 10% methanolic
works has not yet been documented. In this study we
extract, Group III - consider as Standard and treated with
have attempted to investigate the wound healing
5% w/w Povidone iodine ointment.
activities of Ficus virens bark methanolic extract.
Three groups of animals containing six rats in each group
MATERIALS AND METHODS
were anesthetized by open mask method with anesthetic
Plant material collection ether. The rats were depilated on the back and a
predetermined area of 500 mm2 full thickness skins was
The plant was obtained from the Tirumala forest;
excised in the dorsal interscapular region 5. Rats were left
Triupathi and the bark were identified by Dr. Madhava
undressed to the open environment. The extract and
Chetty. Authentication has done by Dr. P.Jayaraman,
standard drug were applied daily until the complete
Director, Plant Anatomy Research Centre, Chennai.
healing. In this model, wound contraction and
Preparation of extract epithelialization period was monitored. Wound
contraction was measured as percent contraction in each
The bark was dried under shade and powdered. The
2 days after wound formation. From the healed wound, a
powder was defatted with petroleum ether and subjected
specimen sample of tissue was collected from each rat for
to soxhlet extraction with methanol. The extract was
histopathological examination.
evaporated to dryness. The dark brownish semisolid mass
obtained was stored in a well closed airtight resistant Measurement of wound contraction
container.
An excision wound margin was traced after wound
Phytochemical screening creation by using transparent paper and area measured
6
by graph paper. Wound contraction was measured in
The methanolic extract was taken to investigate for
4 each 2 days interval, until complete wound healing and
phytochemical screening . The results revealed the
expressed in percentage of healed wound area. The
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Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 27(2), July – August 2014; Article No. 04, Pages: 16-18 ISSN 0976 – 044X
evaluated surface area was then employed to calculate
the percentage of wound contraction. Taking initial size of
wound, 300mm2, as 100%, by using the following formula
as:
Epithelialization period
It was evaluated by noting the number of days required
for the Escher to fall off from the wound surface exclusive
of leaving a raw wound behind.
Figure 1: Control skin
Statistical analysis
The results were subjected to statistical analysis by using
ANOVA followed Tukey’s multiple comparison test
RESULTS
The results indicates the topical application of Ficus virens
methanolic extract (10%) was used as test drug which
indicates the significant reduction in the wound area at
10th, 12th & 14th days was found to be 1.05±0.05,
0.83±0.03, 0.41±0.03 respectively. Compound with the
standard 5% povidone iodine ointment at 10th, 12th, 14th
day was found to be 0.58±0.03, 0.45±0.03, 0.31±0.03
respectively. Figure 2: Drug skin
th
On the 15 day a small portion of the animal skin was
excised from the healed part and histopathological
examination was done. The results shown that the
epithelial cells collagen fibers were normal in the
controlled treated group (Fig.1). Which was compared
with the Ficus virens methanolic extract (10%) treated
shown dermis subcutaneous region appeared normal,
hair follicles sebaceous gland located in dermal
subcutaneous region appeared normal (Fig.2) in standard
5% povidone iodine ointment skin, stratum corneal layers
of epidermis showed thickening desquamation in the
epidermal region of skin (Fig.3).
Figure 3: Standard skin
Table 1: Effect of Ficus virens bark extract of various parameters wound contraction of excision wound models in rats
% wound Test Standard
Control
contraction on Ficus virens 10% W/W Povidone iodine 5% W/W
0 1.88±0.04 2.05±0.67 1.85±0.07
2 1.73±0.04 1.81±0.06 1.33±0.03
4 1.68±0.03 1.65±0.06 1.18±0.03
6 1.55±0.02 1.48±0.06 1.06±0.03
8 1.25±0.02 1.35±0.06 0.83±0.03**
10 1.05±0.02 1.05±0.05* 0.58±0.03**
12 0.75±0.02 0.83±0.03* 0.45±0.03**
14 0.38±0.03 0.41±0.03* 0.31±0.03**
N= 6, Value are expressed as mean ± SEM. P*<0.05, P**<0.01
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Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 27(2), July – August 2014; Article No. 04, Pages: 16-18 ISSN 0976 – 044X
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Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None.
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