EFFECT OF PUNICA GRANATUM PEEL EXTRACT ON BURN WOUND HEALING IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

摘要

Introduction: Punica granatum is known to have long history of medicinal use. Aqueousfractions prepared from pomegranate peel extract has been found to stimulate type 1 procollagen synthesisand inhibit matrix metalloproteinase (which breaks down skin protein) produced by dermal fibroblasts. Objectives: To study the effect of a topical Punica granatum peel extract on healing of burn wound and tocompare its effect with that of standard (silver sulfadiazine).Materials and Methods: Partial thickness burn wounds were inflicted upon wistar rats by pouring hotmolten wax at 80.C in to a metal cylinder with 300mm square circular opening, placed on the back of theanimal. There were four groups in the study viz. control (topical petroleum jelly), standard (topical SilverSulphadiazine Cream) and test groups (topical Punica granatum peel extract 10% and 20 %). Theparameters measured were wound contraction and epithelization period in this burn wound model.Results & Discussion: The percentage of wound contraction was significantly increased in the topicalPunica granatum extract (10% and 20%) and silver sulfadiazine group compared to control group. Themean period of epithelization was significantly reduced in topical Punica granatum extract (10% and 20%)group and silver sulfadiazine group as compared to the control. Conclusion:Punica granatum peel extract is effective in healing burn wound and the effect wascomparable to the standard drug silver sulfadiazine