Healing promoting potentials of roots of Ficus benghalensis L. in albino rats.

OBJECTIVE: To screen the wound healing activity of aqueous and ethanolic extract of roots of Ficus benghalensis.

METHODS: Both the extracts were evaluated for wound healing by three modelsie. incision, excision and dead space wound. In incision and dead space the extracts were applied daily topically till the 10 th post wounding days while in excision model it was till the complete epithelialization process. Standard group were administered Povidone iodine ointment topically daily. The breaking strength, percentage of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, dry granulation weight and hydroxyproline content were observed.

RESULTS: The result of the present study showed that both extracts were able to increase the breaking strength (incision model), decrease period of epithelialization, increase percentage wound contraction (excision model), increase hydroxyproline content (Dead space wound model) significantly compared with control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on result we conclude that aqueous extract is more effective than ethanolic extract. However, it is needed more research to be carried out especially on toxicity studies of ethanolic extract.