Evaluation of Calendula officinalis Linn. alone and in combination with graphites for healing of full thickness skin wounds in rabbits

Wound healing potential of topical application of 5% aqueous extract of Calendula officinalis alone and in combination with oral homeopathic medicine graphites was evaluated in excisional wounds of adult New Zealand white rabbits. The study was carried out on 36 full-thickness skin wounds measuring 2 x 2 cm square each, on 18 adult healthy New Zealand white rabbits of 6–8 months age. The animals were divided into three treatment groups for evaluation of topical application of Calendula officinalis, combination of topical application of Calendula officinalis and oral graphites, and topical application of normal saline served as control. Clinicophysiological and haematobiochemical, gross, photographic and microscopic (histopathological and histochemical) evaluation were recorded for each wound. Calendula officinalis alone and in combination with oral graphites augment wound healing in full thickness skin wounds by increasing cellular proliferation, formation of granulation tissue, neovascularization, synthesis of collagen, epithelialization and early histological maturation in rabbits.