Wound healing activity of the ethanolic extract and agnuside isolated from Vitex negundo L. Leaves

Abstract

The wound healing effects of ethanolic extracts of leaves of Vitex negundo L. (Fam.Verbenaceae) as well as of the major iridoid, agnuside against the incision and excision wounds on Wistar albino rats were examined and elaborated in this study. The ethanolic extract and 25% agnuside which was enriched from the extract were used in this study. These experiments were designed in four groups of Wistar albino rats consisting of group I (control), group II (treated with Vitex negundo ethanolic extract), group III (treated with 25% agnuside) and group IV (treated with standard drug, Soframycin) for 0-15 days. This is the first report of the effects of 25% agnuside on wound healing in in-vivo experiments. Quick and effective incision and excision wound healing was observed in group III animals treated with 25% agnuside than in any other groups. The results were comparable to the treatment with soframycin. It is therefore, concluded that the active principle, agnuside in the traditional wound healing treatment using Vitex negundo.