EFFECT OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L. SEEDS EXTRACT ON BIOPHYSICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF WOUND IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED DIABETES IN RATS

Abstract

Momordica charantia Linn. seed extrat in the form of an ointment (20% w/w dried powder in simple ointment base) was evaluated for wound-healing potential in an excision wound model whereas the the seed extract given orally was evaluated for incision and dead space wound model in rats. The rats were divided into six groups of diabetic control, diabetic treated, diabetic standard, normal control, normal treated and normal standard in excision wound model whereas the rats were divided into four groups of diabetic control, diabetic treated, normal control and normal treated in incision and dead space wound models, each group consisting of six rats. Wound-contraction ability in excision wound mode was measured at different time intervals on days 4^th, 8^th, 16^th and the study was continued until the wound had completely healed. Tensile strength was measured in 10-day-old incision wound and hydroxyproline content and wet and dry granulation weight of wound was evaluated for dead space wound. The extract treated wounds were found to contract faster as compared to controls, the wet and dry granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline content was also increased as compared to controls. This suggests that Momordica charantia Linn. Seed extrat promotes significant wound healing in diabetic rats.

Key words: Momordica charantia, wound healing, ointment, excision wound, incision wound, dead space wound