Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most serious complications of uncontrolled Diabetes mellitus. This is considered as the major cause of the amputations associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the wound healing property of alcohol extract of Wattakaka volubilis root in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg. Foot ulcer and dead space wound models were induced in the diabetic rats on the 8thd following induction of diabetes. The extract was administered p.o. at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg for 21 d. Glimepiride 0.5 mg/kg was used as the standard drug and vehicle treated diabetic rats were assigned as the positive control. There was significant wound contraction of the foot ulcers from the 8th day onwards. Healing of Dead space wounds was assessed by comparing the wet weight of granulation tissue and its breaking strength with that of the untreated diabetic positive control. It was found that wet weight and breaking strength of granulation tissue were significantly increased in the extract treated animals when compared with the positive control animals.SOD and catalase levels in the granulation tissue were also measured and found to be significantly (P< 0.001) increased. Histopathology examination of granulation tissue from extract treated and glimepiride treated animals showed predominant collagen formation. The results of this study showed that the alcohol extract of W. volubilis root stimulates collagen deposition and granulation tissue formation which accelerate wound healing even in diabetic conditions. Traditionally W. volubilis root is used in diabetic conditions. Hence further studies can be undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic property of W. volubilis root also, which may help in the future development of this medicinal plant to a drug/ formulation with antidiabetic and wound healing properties.

Key words: Wattakaka volubilis root, dead space wound, granulation tissue, tensile strength