WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF THE WHOLE PLANT OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA LINN. IN RATS

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of wound healing activity of the whole plant of Momordica charantia Linn. in rats. The effect of aqueous ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia Linn. (Family; Cucurbetaceae) was evaluated on resutured incision, granuloma pouch and excision wound models in rats. The wound healing activity was measured by the rate of wound contraction, skin breaking strength, weight of the granulation tissue, and collagen content. The concentrated ethyl alcohol extract was subject to fractionation by using petroleum ether (40-60o V/V), solvent ether, ethyl acetate, butanol, butanone, ethanol and methanol in succession. All the fractions were screened for wound healing property. The results of pharmacological activity led to the conclusion that the petroleum ether fraction exhibited more significant wound healing promotion property followed by solvent ether and butanone, from all the parameters studied. Ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol fractions were least effective.