Wound healing and antimicrobial activity of two classical formulations of Laghupanchamula in rats

BACKGROUND: Wounds affect a large number of patients and seriously reduce the quality of life. The wound as a medical problem was first discussed by Maharshi Agnivesha in Agnivesha Samhita (later known as Charaka Samhita) as Vrana. Laghupanchamula denotes a combination of the roots of five herbs. However, in Ayurvedic classics, besides four common herbs viz. Kantakari, Brihati, Shalaparni and Prinshniparni, the fifth one is either Gokshura (LPG) or Eranda (LPE), and both formulations have been documented to have wound healing (Vrana) activity. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to determine the in vivo wound healing activity and in vitro antimicrobial activity of 50% ethanolic extract of Laghupanchamula containing Gokshura (LPGE) and Laghupanchamula containing Eranda (LPEE) in rats with acute toxicity in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LPGE and LPEE (1000 mg/kg) was administered orally, once daily for 10 days (incision wound model) or for 24 days (excision wound model) in rats. LPGE and LPEE was studied for its in vitro antimicrobial and in vivo wound breaking strength (WBS) (incision model) and rate of contraction, period of epithelization and histology of skin (excision model). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: LPGE and LPEE showed antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens, enhanced WBS, rate of contraction, skin collagen tissue formation and early epithelization period with low scar area indicating enhanced healing with histological evidence of more collagen formation in skin tissues. LPGE and LPEE also showed anti-bacterial activity and seemed to be safe, and use of both formulations in Laghupanchamula for their wound healing and anti-microbial activities is thus authenticated.