Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Methanolic Extract of Gmelina arborea and Hemigraphis colorata in Rats

Gmelina arborea and Hemigraphis colorata are traditionally used by tribal healers of Wayanad district, Kerala India. The wound healing and anti-inflammatory activity of Gmelina arborea and Hemigraphis coloratawere tested in adult wistar albino rats. Wound healing activity was assessed using excisional wound healing method and anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using carageenan induced paw oedema model. Acute oral toxicity of the extract was determined by giving the extract at the rate of 2000 mg/kg by single oral dose. For testing the wound healing activity, the methanolic extracts of the plants were used at 5% and 10% in paraffin vehicle and the effect was compared with the standard drug boric acid. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by single oral dose at the rate of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of the extracts subsequent to carageenan, keeping diclofenac as positive control. It was found that both plant extract did not possess any significant toxicity after oral dosing. H. colorata showed excellent wound healing activity and G. arborea showed moderate activity. With respect to the anti-inflammatory activity, G arborea was having better activity than H colorata extract, though both were significantly less effective than diclofenac. Both the plant extract showed significant wound healing as well as anti-inflammatory activities.