Nigella sativa L. is a well-known medicinal plant possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. While extensive research has been conducted on its seeds and seed oil, the pharmacological potential of its roots remains largely unexplored. The present study aimed to scientifically evaluate the wound healing activity of Nigella sativa root extracts using experimental animal models. Roots of Nigella sativa were successively extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol using Soxhlet extraction. The extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening and acute oral toxicity studies following OECD Guideline 423. Wound healing activity was evaluated in Wistar rats using excision and incision wound models. Parameters including percentage wound contraction, epithelialization period, wound breaking strength, and histopathological changes were assessed and compared with standard and control groups. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of major bioactive constituents, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids. The extracts were found to be safe at the tested dose levels. Treatment with Nigella sativa root extracts significantly enhanced wound contraction, shortened the epithelialization period, improved wound breaking strength, and promoted collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization compared with the control group. The findings demonstrate that Nigella sativa root extracts possess significant wound healing activity, which may be attributed to their phytochemical constituents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These results provide scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa roots as a promising natural agent for wound management and justify further studies to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for these effects.
Swetha* et al. (Fri,) studied this question.