Wound Healing Activity of Extracts of Malva sylvestris and Stachys lavandulifolia

Abstract

The flowers of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae) and Malva sylvestris Linn (Malvaceae) are traditionally used to treat various skin disorders, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. The chloroform extract of M. sylvestris flowers and aqueous extract of S. lavandulifolia flowers were used to evaluate the wound healing activity at 200 mg/kg/day dose . Wounds were induced in Wistar rats divided into four groups as following; Group-I was treated with cold cream . Groups-II and -III were treated with cold cream containing of extracts, Group-IV received the standard drug ( Nitrofurazone ). The efficacy of treatment was evaluated based on wound area and histopathological characteristics. The extract-treated animals by M. sylvestris showed significant reduction in the wound area when compared with other groups. Also, histopathological studies of the tissue obtained on days 6 th , 9 th and 16 th from the extract - treated by M. sylvestris showed increased well organized bands of collagen, more fibroblasts and few inflammatory cells.