Formulation, characterization and in-vivo evaluation of standardized Tabernaemontana divericata extract hydrogel for wound healing

Abstract

Background: Tabernaemontana divaricata (TD) from the Apocynaceae family exhibits traditional therapeutic properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase activity, etc. Objective: To formulate and evaluate the wound healing potential of standardized ethanolic extract of TD leaves hydrogel on experimental models of wounds in Wistar rats with the design of experiment approach. Methods: The prepared PVA-based hydrogel of TD extract was evaluated. In-vivo, wound healing activities using excision, incision, and burn wound models were performed concerning percent wound contraction, epithelialization period, tensile strength, and histological analysis. Results: On the 20th day of the excision model, percentage wound contraction for 0.5 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml extract hydrogel was found to be 90.35 % ± 0.46 and 97.28 % ± 0.59, respectively, while on the 9th day of incision model, the tensile strength of both doses of hydrogel was found to be 191.16 ± 1.51 g and 201.00 ± 1.29 g, respectively, indicating that both concentrations of the hydrogel showed significant (P < 0.05) wound healing as compared to disease control and vehicle control group. The histopathological study of hydrogel showed no necrotic cells and a greater amount of collagen. Furthermore, in the burn wound model, both doses of TD hydrogel had significant wound-healing activity, as demonstrated by a reduction in the time needed for epithelialization and an increase in the rate of wound contraction (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The proposed formulation showed potential for wound healing and may be studied further in clinical trials.