Dermal wound healing contribution of aqueous extracts of Acalypha indica, Calotropis gigantea, Bacopa monnieri and their combination

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex process that requires a well-orchestrated integration of an array of molecular events such as cell migration and proliferation, deposition and remodelling of extracellular matrix components for restoring the structural and functional integrity of the injured tissue. Ayurveda suggests wound healing herbs can achieve enhanced therapeutic effect with reduced toxicity when they are optimally combined in a specific ratio as polyherbal formulation (PHF). The present study was aimed to evaluate the combinatorial wound healing efficacy (in vivo wound closure and histological changes) of aqueous extracts of three medicinal plants (Bacopa monnieri, Acalypha indica and Calotropis gigantea). This study also explored how the combination influenced the overall quality of healed wound. Individual wound closure kinetic performance of aqueous plant extracts in C57B/6J mice was assessed using safe concentrations obtained from human adult dermal fibroblast viability assay. The aqueous plant extract combination optimized using response surface methodology was tested for in vivo wound closure effectiveness. Quality of healed wound was assessed via Haematoxylin & Eosin and immunohistochemical staining of markers (K1, K5, Loricrin, Ki67, CD31 and collagen1). The combination treatment (B.monnieri-15μg/ml, A.indica-11.59μg/ml, C.gigantea-1μg/ml) contributed to faster wound closure (11 days), improved collagen type I remodelling and angiogenesis, complete re-epithelialization,  similar epidermal differentiation pattern as that of individual and control treatments. Ki67 staining revealed no significant increase in cell proliferation in combination compared to individual and control. Findings from the study validates  the polyherbal combination’s impressive capability to promote wound healing.