A Review on Indian Medicinal Plants for Wound Healing: From Ethnomedicine to Experimental Evidence
Keywords:
Bauhinia variegata, diabetic wound healing, phytochemicals, herbal medicine, streptozotocinAbstract
Diabetic wounds represent a major clinical challenge due to impaired angiogenesis, prolonged inflammation, oxidative stress, and reduced collagen synthesis. Plant-based therapies offer promising alternatives owing to their multi-targeted biological actions. Bauhinia variegata Linn., a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the wound healing efficacy of ethanolic extracts of B. variegata leaves and flowers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Excision wound models were employed, and healing was assessed by percentage wound contraction, epithelialization period, and histopathological examination. Both extracts significantly improved wound healing compared to diabetic controls, with the flower extract demonstrating superior efficacy. Enhanced collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation, and neovascularization were observed in treated groups. The findings suggest that B. variegata, particularly its flowers, holds strong potential as a natural therapeutic agent for diabetic wound management.
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