Wound Healing Efficacy of Phytochemicals from Selected Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Hippocrates has perfectly said and#8213;Healing is a matter of time but it is also a matter of opportunityand#8214;. A wound is defined as a break in the epithelial integrity of the skin. A wound interrupts skin continuity and integrity. In general, a wound may be the result of trauma, both minor and severe, or of a pathological process, or caused due to bruises and abrasions, or due to burns and it can also result during the course of a surgical procedure. A well accepted definition of a wound is a breakdown in the protective function of the skin; the loss of continuity of the epithelium, with or without loss of underlying connective tissue viz. muscle, bone, nerves. newlineIn the ancient scriptures of Ayurveda, one of the Indian traditional systems of medicine, the area of wounds and wound healing including clinical details and plants effective for treatment of wounds, are discussed under the head, Vranaropakaand#8214; (Gabriel Van Loon, 2002). Maharshi Agnivesha was the first to discuss the wounds as a medical problem in Agnivesha tantra (later known as Charaka Samhita) as and#8213;Vranaand#8214; (Kumar et al., 2007) According to Ayurveda, Vrana is the discontinuation of the lining membrane which, after healing, leaves a scar for life, closely resembling the modern definition of wound. In fact the Charak Samhita has mentioned the use of many different herbs, leaves, oils, stalk of plants, etc. intended for the treatment of different types of wounds and inflammation (Gabriel Van Loon, 2002). Reddy et al. (2012) have noted that about 70 % of the wound healing Ayurvedic drugs are of plant origin, 20% of mineral origin, and the remaining 10 % arise from animal products. newline