Evaluation of the wound healing potential of Albizzia lebbeck (L.) bark

The present study was performed to substantiate the traditional claim of the wound healing activity of stem bark of Albizzia lebbeck Linn. in rats. The effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of stem bark of A. lebbeck (5% and 10% w/v topically and 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg p.o.) on excision, incision and dead space wound model were examined. The extracts were administered orally for 10 days for incision and dead space wound model and for excision model drugs were administered until complete epithelialization. The healing of wound was assessed by the rate of wound contraction and period of epithelialization for excision model, tensile strength and histopathology of the incision wound skin for incision model, dry granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline content for dead space wound. Treatment of wound with ethanolic extract 10% w/v topically exhibited significant (p < 0.01) wound healing activity in all three models as compared to control groups. High rate of wound contraction, decrease in period of epithelialization, high tensile strength, increase in dry granulation tissue weight, elevated hydroxyproline content and increased collagenation in histopathological section were observed in animals treated topically with 10% w/v ethanolic stem bark extract. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts were quantitatively analyzed for alkaloids, flavonoids and phenols, and the contents were found to be greater in ethanolic extract than aqueous extract. Topical application (10% w/v) of ethanolic extract possesses better wound healing property and this activity could be attributed due to presence of alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids.