Wound Healing Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Selaginella Bryopteris on Rats

The objective of the present study was to determine wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of Selaginella bryopteris on rats. The whole plant of S. bryopteris Linn. was collected from Andhra Pradesh, India and extraction was done using ethanol. GC-MS analysis was performed to determine active metabolites present in the extract followed by determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In vivo wound healing activity of ethanolic extract was evaluated using excision wound model. The extract was applied topically on animals by preparing ointment in two concentrations (5% and 10%) where soframycin (10%) was taken as positive control. Antioxidant activity of S. bryopteris extract was observed by measuring oxidative enzymatic levels i.e. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), reduced Glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in animal tissues. Histopathological studies of excised skin were carried out after the experimental period. The contraction rate of the wound was higher and dose-dependent in rats treated with 5% and 10 % ointment of extract in comparison to untreated control group. The drug treated groups showed recovery phase and the percentage of healing was more in 10% at the end of experimental period. Results exhibited sufficient insights on the healing process with normal recovery stages and restored oxidative enzymatic levels. Histopathological findings provided additional positive results; the dermis with proliferating capillaries and skeletal muscle were replaced by cellular fibrous tissue and collagen fibers. Overall, the results showed that ethanolic extract of S.bryopteris was an interesting traditional agent that possess significant wound healing activity.