Wound healing activity of Matricaria recutita L. extract.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the wound healing activity of M. recutita (chamomile) extract in rats.


METHODS
Wound healing activity was determined using excision, incision and dead space wound models. The animals were divided into two groups of six for each model: animals in the test group were treated with the aqueous extract of M. recutita (120mg/kg/day), which was mixed in their drinking water. Animals in the control group were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialisation, wound-breaking strength, granulation tissue weight and hydoxyproline content. Antimicrobial activity of the extract against various microorganisms was assessed.


RESULTS
On day 15 animals in the test group exhibited a greater reduction in the wound area when compared with the controls (61 % versus 48%), faster epithelialisation and a significantly higher wound-breaking strength (p<0.002). In addition, wet and dry granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline content were significantly higher.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased rate of wound contraction, together with the increased wound-breaking strength, hydroxyproline content and histological observations, support the use of M. recutita in wound management. However, this needs to be studied further before it can be considered for clinical use.
Nayak
B Shivananda
BS
Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Biochemistry Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences,The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine,Trinidad. shiv25@gmail.com
Raju
S Sivachandra
SS
Rao
A V Chalapathi
AV
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D031168:Matricaria; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D028321:Plant Preparations; D006909:Hydroxyproline