Author(s):

Harsha Kumar, Sourabh Jain and Karunakar Shukla

Abstract: Medicago sativa (M. sativa) has a long tradition of use as Ayurvedic and homoeopathic medicine in central nervous system disorders. The plant has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of M. sativa on experimentally induced wounds in rats and compare the effects observed with a known wound healing agent, Aloe vera. The models selected were excision wound, incision wound, burn wound and dead space wound. A suitable gel formulation was selected for the application using cellophane membrane penetration. In the excision wound and burn wound models, animals treated with M. sativa leaf extract showed significant reduction in period of epithelisation and wound contraction 50%. In the incision wound model, a significant increase in the breaking strength was observed. M. sativa leaf extract treatment orally produced a significant increase in the breaking strength, dry weight and hydroxyproline content of the granulation tissue in dead space wound. It was concluded that M. sativa leaf extract applied topically (5% and 10% gel formulation) or administered orally (250 mg and 500mg/kg body weight) possesses wound healing activity.

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