Categorisation of medicinal plants reported in classical Ayurvedic texts for wound healing activity.
Abstract
Description of wound healing is a recent concern of modern surgery and medical therapeutics, but first evidences are available in ancient Indian system of medicine, namely Ayurveda in the name of Vrana (wounds) and Vranaropaka (wound healing drugs). It has been reported that in different classical Ayurvedic texts, about 164 medicinal plants, 24 metals and minerals and 18 animal products are described for their wound healing activity. The mechanism of the healing process and the selection of drugs from natural resources are very specific in Ayurveda, and some of these have been scientifically screened. Besides a single component of drug, many classical formulations either in the form of polyherbal or herbo-minerals have been cited in Ayurveda from time to time since pre-vedic era to recent modern time. Many traditional folkloric preparations of India were also later on incorporated in Ayurveda utilizing sources of some pockets of Ayurveda in different parts of the country. Chronological development of these drugs on the basis of physical, molecular and clinical parameters is elaborated vividly with some examples of experimentation like Curcuma longa, Pterocarpus santalinus, Cynodon dactylon and a composed formulation named Kshantak Malam.
Keywords
- wound healing
- Ayurveda
- Vranaropaka
- medicinal plants
- metals and minerals
1. Introduction
The development of drugs for wound management is a concern of long history in medical science, and probably it was first described in Indian system of medicine,
In Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, elaborative description about the treatment of wounds is mentioned, particularly in the text,
2. Review of wound healing drugs in Ayurveda
2.1. Plant drugs
Description of wound healing drugs is found in different Ayurvedic texts of different era. It has been observed that there were development in compositions and selection of more specific drugs of natural resources towards specific therapeutic activity, particularly wound healing
2.1.1. Curcuma longa
The rhizome of
Sl | Family | Total no. of plants cited |
Parts of plants used with number distribution | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leaves | Stem | Flower | Fruit | Root | Seed | Gum | Rhizome | Latex | Filament | Whole plant | |||
1 | Acanthaceae | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2 | Algae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – |
3 | Amaranthaceae | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 02 |
4 | Anacardaceae | 03 | 01 | 01 | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
5 | Anonaceae | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
6 | Apocyanaceae | 04 | 01 | 01 | – | – | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
7 | Araceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – |
8 | Aristolochiaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
9 | Asclepidiaceae | 04 | 01 | – | – | – | 02 | – | – | – | 01 | – | – |
10 | Berberidaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
11 | Bombacaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
12 | Boraginaceae | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
13 | Capparidaceae | 02 | – | – | – | – | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
14 | Celestraceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
15 | Combretaceae | 03 | – | 01 | – | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
16 | Compositeae | 08 | 02 | 01 | 01 | – | 03 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
17 | Convolvulaceae | 02 | – | – | – | - | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
18 | Cucurbitaceae | 05 | 02 | – | – | – | 02 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
19 | Cyperaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
20 | Dipterocarpaceae | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | 01 | – | – |
21 | Euphorbiaceae | 05 | 01 | – | – | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | 01 | – | 01 |
22 | Gentinaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
23 | Gramineae | 06 | – | – | – | – | 03 | 02 | – | – | – | – | 01 |
24 | Gutaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
25 | Gutiferae | 01 | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
26 | Hydrophyllaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
27 | Irideae | 02 | – | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
28 | Lauraceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
29 | Labiateae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
30 | Leguminosae | 20 | 02 | 03 | – | – | 03 | 09 | 01 | – | – | – | 02 |
31 | Liliaceae | 02 | – | – | – | – | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
32 | Loranthaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
33 | Lytheraceae | 01 | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
34 | Malvaceae | 03 | – | – | – | 01 | 02 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
35 | Meliaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
36 | Menispermaceae | 02 | – | 01 | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
37 | Mimosoiodeae | 02 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
38 | Moraceae | 05 | 01 | 03 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
39 | Moringaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
40 | Musaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
41 | Myricaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
42 | Myrsinaceae | 01 | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
43 | Myrtaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
44 | Mertyneaceae | 01 | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
45 | Nyctaginaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
46 | Nymphaeceae | 04 | – | 01 | – | – | 03 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
47 | Oleaceae | 03 | 01 | – | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
48 | Orchidaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
49 | Papavaraceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
50 | Papilionaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
51 | Pedaliaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
52 | Pinaceae | 02 | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
53 | Piperaceae | 04 | – | – | – | 03 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
54 | Plumbaginaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
55 | Polypoidiaceae | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
56 | Rannunculaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
57 | Rosaceae | 03 | – | 01 | – | – | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – |
58 | Rubiaceae | 04 | – | 02 | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | 01 |
59 | Rutaceae | 04 | 02 | – | – | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
60 | Salicaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
61 | Santalanaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
62 | Sapotaceae | 02 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
63 | Scrophulariaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – |
64 | Simaronbaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
65 | Solanaceae | 02 | 01 | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
66 | Symplocaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
67 | Thymelaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – |
68 | Tiliaceae | 01 | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
69 | Umbeliferae | 02 | – | – | – | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
70 | Valerianaceae | 01 | – | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
71 | Verbenaceae | 04 | 02 | – | – | 01 | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
72 | Zingiberaceae | 06 | – | – | – | – | 01 | 02 | – | 03 | – | – | – |
73 | Zygophyllaceae | 01 | – | – | – | 01 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Total | 164 | 22 | 31 | 05 | 13 | 45 | 21 | 04 | 05 | 03 | 01 | 14 |
Pre-clinical investigation of this plant was performed for wound healing activity in a rabbit model in comparison with honey. Significant (
2.1.2. Pterocarpus santalinus
The heartwood of the plant
2.1.3. Cynodon dactylon
Name of the plant | Total phenolic content mg/g dry extract (GAE equivalent) |
Total flavonoid content mg/g dry extract (rutin equivalent) |
Total flavonol content mg/g dry extract (quercetin equivalent) |
Reducing power mg/g dry extract (AAE equivalent) | DPPH radical scavenging activity IC50 mg/g dry extract | ABTS radical scavenging activity IC50 mg/g dry extract |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23.9 ± 0.16 | 5.79 ± 0.14 | 14.84 ± 0.17 | 12.96 ± 0.68 | 2.29 ± 0.13 | 0.40 ± 0.001 |
Ascorbic acid/phenolic acids/flavonoids in |
Amount in mg/g dry extract (mean ± SD) |
---|---|
Ascorbic acid | 7.66 ± 0.05 |
Gallic acid | 0.44 ± 0.01 |
Catechin | 0.58 ± 0.006 |
Methyl gallate | 0.12 ± 0.01 |
0.06 ± 0.009 | |
Caffeic acid | 2.20 ± 0.01 |
Syringic acid | 2.78 ± 0.02 |
Rutin | 0.88 ± 0.01 |
0.44 ± 0.006 | |
Naringin | 0.14 ± 0.003 |
Myricetin | 0.08 ± 0.002 |
Apigenin | 0.05 ± 0.0009 |
Physical and biochemical parameters | Framycetin ( |
Petroleum jelly (vehicle) ( |
|
---|---|---|---|
Wound contraction (mm2) | 2.04 ± 0.48t1 | 2.64 ± 0.70 | 3.33 ± 0.31 |
Healing period (days) | 10.00 ± 0.97t1 | 12.00 ± 0.63t1 | 15.83 ± 0.93 |
Tensile strength (g) | 421.50 ± 32.84t1 | 410.41 ± 34.57 | 301.12 ± 24.08 |
DNA (mg/g) | 2.02 ± 0.05t1 | 2.49 ± 0.02t1 | 1.11 ± 0.06 |
RNA (mg/g) | 1.92 ± 0.03t1 | 2.13 ± 0.02t1 | 1.01 ± 0.02 |
Protein (mg/g) | 22.73 ± 0.06t2 | 25.16 ± 0.10t2 | 12.30 ± 0.15 |
Hydroxyproline (mg/g) | 4.69 ± 0.06t2 | 3.72 ± 0.07t2 | 1.99 ± 0.05 |
2.1.4. Polyherbal formulation
Most of the drugs in Ayurveda are used in the polyherbal form for different diseases. These formulations were standardized in the composition and preparation technique according to the clinical experiences obtained from time to time as well as experiences gained from one group of Ayurvedic School to other. A classic example is also applied in designing wound healing drugs of polyherbal composition developed by Bengal school of Ayurveda. The unique preparation is commonly known in the local name of ‘
2.2. Metals and minerals
Metals and minerals are used in Ayurveda to combat several diseases. However, there is description of the technical procedure for purification of these components before therapeutic use.
2.3. Animal products
Besides, medicinal plants and metallic drugs, animal products also play an important role in treatment of wounds in Ayurveda. The most important animal products that exhibit wound healing activity is honey. Several studies are reported for wound healing potential of honey. Honey performed the healing activity due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound debridement, leukocytic stimulation, cytokine and growth factor releasing as well as osmotic activities probably due to presence of natural phenolic compounds [27].
3. Conclusion
Healing of wounds engrosses a diverse mechanism in the process of cell repair involving multiple biological factors. Ideal healing is demarcated with successful closure of wounds in minimum days without any adverse effect. Ayurveda is one of the best ethnological sources to search natural sources for wound healing property. Many drugs are described in different texts for wound healing property, but only few of them have been scientifically screened which are described in the recent review. The information provided in favour of
Acknowledgments
Authors are thankful to Professor Biswapati Mukherjee, former Director, S. N. Pradhan Centre for Neuroscience, University of Calcutta for encouragement. Authors are also thankful to the Indian Council of Medical Research for financial support to conduct research on
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