Parthenium-turmeric ointment: A novel approach for excision wound healing on rabbits

Traditional phytomedicines owing to their affordable price and fewer side effects over synthetic preparations may have a wide range of applications in primary health care system. However, there was no scientific report documented so far on the excision wound healing activity of Parthenium hysterophorus-Turmeric ethanolic extract on rabbits. The present study deals with the formulation and evaluation of Parthenium hysterophorus-Turmeric ointment in definite ratio. The four batches were examined for hemocompatibility study and characterised for physical appearance, pH, rheological behaviour, in-vitro drug diffusion pattern, skin irritation excision wound healing and stability study. All the hemocompatible herbal formulations were found to possess satisfactory organoleptic properties and applicability parameters. An inverse relationship was observed between viscosity and % spreadability of ointments. Non-Fickian diffusion based controlled drug release was observed for all these topical preparations. Excision wound healing activity was assessed on the basis of % wound contraction, duration of epithelisation and tensile strength. PHTO1 (ethanolic extract of Parthenium hysterophorus: Turmeric-3:2) showed greater (1.10–1.34 times) wound healing activity compared to only Parthenium extract containing ointment (PHO1). Tissue debride effect was also observed after 7^th day of applications of each formulation. All the prepared Parthenium-Turmeric formulations were found to be stable suggesting elaborative research to confirm the pharmacologically active constituent responsible for excision wound healing activity.