HEALING POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF BARRINGTONIA ACUTANGULA FRUIT IN INFECTED WOUNDS

The wound healing effect of methanolic extract of Barringtonia acutangula fruits (MEBA) in infected wound model was studied in wistar rats. Two models were used to evaluate the wound healing activity i.e. infected excision and infected incision model. The wound area was infected with a loop full of inoculums of mixed microorganisms comprising of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. In incision model the breaking strength of the wounded skin was evaluated. In excision model the percentage wound contraction and period of epithelialization were evaluated. Reference standard drug was Povidone iodine ointment. The results indicate that the methanolic extract of Barringtonia acutangula fruits (MEBA) at 20% w/w produced significant wound healing activity in presence of infection.