Comparative Wound Healing Efficacy of Neem Oil, Turmeric and Oxoferin® On Full Thickness Cutaneous Wounds in a Rabbit Model

Abstract

Wound is attributed as a loss or tearing of cellular, functional and anatomical continuity of live tissues. Complex biological phases occur during wound healing are coagulation, epithelization, granulation, collegenation and finally remodeling of tissues. Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) are two traditional medicinal plants used as herbal medicine in many parts of the world, which show antiinflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-carcinogenic, blood purifier and wound healing properties. Tetrachlorodecaoxide (TCDO; Oxoferin®) is a proved drug for wound care which contains a chlorite that shows the wound healingand immuno-modulation activity. The proposed study was conducted to evaluate and compare wound healing efficacy of Azadirachta indica and Curcuma longa with a standard drug for wound healing i.e. Oxoferin®. In this study 20 adult healthy rabbits of either sex ware selected. Three full thickness skin wounds of equal size (approximately 2x2cm) were created on each rabbit on both sides of trunk (thoracolumber region) and marked according to wound site. All three trial drugs topically applied to same experimental model in rotational manner. Wounds treated with neem oil designated as group A, wounds that received turmeric treatment were considered as group B while Oxoferin® were categorized as group C (control group). Healing checked out on daily basis by observations and measurements. The evaluation criteria of this study based on wound contraction rate, wound healing time, tensile strength and histo-pathological evaluation. Data thus generated was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) model.