Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research (SJBR)
Volume-4 | Issue-08 | 279-284
Original Research Article
Formulation of Herbal Gel Preparations from Medicinal Plants and Evaluation of their Wound Healing Activities
Shawqi H. Alawdi, Mohanad Shehab, Ahmed G. Al-Mekhlafi
Published : Aug. 26, 2019
Abstract
Aims: The present study aimed to formulate herbal gel preparations containing alcoholic extracts of Withania somnifera
(Ashwagandha), Allium sativum (garlic), and Curcuma longa (turmeric), and to investigate their wound healing activities
upon topical application on full-thickness skin wounds induced surgically in Rabbit. Methods: Experimental study was
conducted using thirty adult male rabbits. Animals were randomly allocated into 6 groups each containing 6 animals.
Animals in group 1 were without treatment and served as control. Animals in group 2 received the carbomer gel base not
containing drugs. Animals in group 3 received herbal gel containing withania extract. Animals in group 4 received herbal
gel containing garlic extract. Animals in group 5 received herbal gel containing curcuma extract. Animals in group 6
received gel containing ciprofloxacin. Gel was applied on wound once daily up to 14-18 days starting from the second
day of wounding. Results: The wound healing was slower in the untreated control animals as well as the animals treated
with carbomer gel base where wounds completely healed by the 18th day of experimental period. In the other hand,
wound healing in animals treated with withania gel reached about 90% by the 12th day and completely healed by the 14th
day. Notably, wound healing reached about 90% by the 10th day and 97% by the 12th day and completely healed by the
14th day. Additionally, wounds in animals treated with curcuma gel cured about 90% by the 14th day and completely
cured by the 16th day. Moreover, wound healing reached more than 90% by the 12th day and completely healed by the
14th day in animals treated with ciprofloxacin gel. Conclusions: Topical application of gels containing the extracts of
withania, garlic, and curcuma has fastened the rate of healing in wounds induced surgically in rabbits.