WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF MICROCOSMUS EXASPERATUS HELLER, 1878
M.I. Delighta Mano Joyce, V.K. Meenakshi, M. Paripooranaselvi and S. Gomathy
Abstract
Wound is termed as any injury that disrupts epithelial integrity of the skin thereby altering the normal function of tissue. Healing of wound is a physiological process accompanied by different phases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the wound healing potential of ethanolic extract of simple ascidian Microcosmus exasperatus using excision, incision and dead space models. Extract treated groups showed a significant dose dependent increase in the percentage closure of wound by enhancing epithelialization in both excision and incision models. In dead space, the tensile strength, wet, dry weight and hydroxyproline content recorded a highly significant increase in the extract administered groups compared to that of control and standard. Histopathological examination of granulation tissues exhibited well formed collagen fibres and fibroblasts without any inflammatory cells in the group treated with the highest dose than the control. The results obtained indicate that the extract of Microcosmus exasperatus has good potential in wound healing process.