Evaluation of Wound Healing Activity and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Thespesia populnea Bark Extracts

Abstract

The leaves and bark of Thespesia populnea are used for the treatment of fracture wounds and as an antiinflammatory poultice applied to ulcers and boils, as a folk medicine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the wound healing activity and phytochemical screening of Thespesia populnea barks extract. The petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and aqueous extract prepared. All the extracts were screened for preliminary phytochemical to determine the nature of secondary metabolite present in bark. Excision wound models were used to evaluate the wound healing activity of extract. The 250 mg and 500 mg of petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol and aqueous extract were individually incorporated with 100 g of Carbopol 940 to get 2.5% and 5% (w/w) gel. Preliminary phytochemical investigations of the extracts of barks of Thespesia populnea revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, glycosides, fats and carbohydrates. The order of wound healing activity of various extract were Ethanol extract > Aqueous extract > Acetone extract > Chloroform extract > Petroleum ether extract. The ethanol extracts of exhibited maximum wound healing activity compared to other extracts. The findings could justify, at least partially, the inclusion of this plant in the management of wound healing in folk medicine.