--VetScan-- Survey of Plants Used for Wound Healing

A wound can be defined as a break in the continuity of the soft tissues like skin, mucous membranes, tissue surfaces etc. caused by physical, chemical or biological insult. Wound can also be called as a traumatic lesion.
Broadly, wounds are classified into two categories:
1) External wounds
2) Internal wounds
An external wound is one with a varying degree of damage to the tissue including skin e.g., incised wounds, lacerated wounds punctured wounds, penetrating wounds, perforating wounds gunshot wounds, abrasions, avulsions or evulsions.
An internal wound damages the underlying tissue to varying degree leaving the skin intact e.g., contusions, bruises, and hematomas.
Two basic objectives are the guiding principles for wound healing:
A) The rapid and completed repair of the created defect and,
B) The Prevention of bacterial invasion during the period the natural barriers are defective.
Although these principles appear to be separate goals they are impossible to attain separately in the clinical care of wounds. For practical purposes, the maneuvers employed to promote rapid wound healing are so intimately related to prevention of bacterial invasion, in fact so dependent on it, that a major portion of energy directed toward the optimal wounds healing is expended in the direction of prevention of bacterial infection.

Proliferation of fibroblasts and capillary buds and the subsequent laying down of collagen to produce a scar is the usual consequence of most tissue damage. Connective tissue is a ubiquitous and efficient method but it necessitates a loss of specialized parenchyma function.
Connective tissue repair may be classified as:
A) Healing by first intention
B) Healing by second intention
C) Healing by third intention

Healing by first intension or primary union is the goal surgeon has in mind with each surgical incision. It represents the results of primary suture and healing of an aseptic, properly incise and closed wound.
The formation of granulation tissue or healing by second intension occurs in those wounds that are allowed to heal without closure. It is in this situation that the biological processes defending against bacterial invasion are vital for survival. The size of wound is reduced by contracture of the underlying tissue. The time required for such a wound to heal will vary with the area involved and the mobility of the underlying tissue. As granulation tissue matures inflammatory cells decrease in number, fibroblasts lay down collagen and the capillaries become much less prominent.

Healing by tertiary intention is represented by the application of skin graft or by intentionally brining together the granulating surface of an incised, previously unclosed wound after a period of several days. An example is the delayed primary closure and the delayed secondary closure.

In all forms of healing however, a series of various processes that involve re-epithlialization, scar formation and the completion of the inflammatory processes, the healing finally comes to an end with contact inhibition of the division process of the cells.

Since would healing is a vital body response, in ideally suited environment, the process may be hastened due to optimum biological repose of the body. In order to create similar situations applications of different medicaments are suggested.

The orient has a long history of using a number of plants for healing of wounds. The modus operandi though not clear in all the cases includes the antiseptic, astringent, immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory actions of these plant constituents.

The search for valuable pharmacological properties of plants has led to the emergence of several allopathic drugs. At present phyto-medicines and traditional remedies employed by various tribal, ethnic, nomadic and semi-nomadic societies in rural areas are being viewed with a great scientific interest. The knowledge gathered from such communities has played a significant role in the development of certain important remedies in India, China and other countries.

The development of anti-fatigue agent from Ticopus zeylanicus in Kerela (Pushpangadan et al 1995) and Vicoa indica (Rao et al 1960) used by some tribals in Bihar are two latest examples exhibiting renaissance of interest in the researchers of traditional plant based remedies. The WHO has also recommended to all member countries to actively promote native medicines and also to initiate steps to conserve and cultivate medicinal plants.

The patho-physiology and treatment strategies vary depending on the nature of would e.g. in contusions wherein subcutaneous tissues is injured, the local application of astringents and administration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents could be beneficial, whereas administration of analgesic, antipyretic and antibiotic agents along with local application of antibiotics is essential to achieve good results in case of contaminated/septic wounds. Similarly in other wounds different strategies are applied keeping the situation in hand in view, for example in maggoted wounds, in addition to the general therapy, an agent able to expel or kill the maggots has to be applied locally.

A study was undertaken to establish the commonly used plants for treatment of wounds. The source of the data collected were the livestock farmers (home remedies), the village herbsmen/milkmen/herb-doctors etc, and also a review of literature related to pharmacognosy and phytomedicine available for the area.

Name of Plant		Part(s) Used and mode of usage
Botanical Name	Local Name (Region)	Part(s) Used and mode of usage
Agrimonia pilosa	Belur (UPH) Agrimony (E)	Pounded whole plant is applied locally
Anaphalis triplinervis	Ekle ghans (N)	A paste made from flowers is applied locally
Annona squamosa	Mondal (Santhal) Jangali shareefa (UPH) Custard apple (E)	Leaves are bandaged and leaf juice is given with lime to cattle
Azadirachta indica	Neem (N)	Leaf decoction is used locally as antiseptic to wash cuts and wounds
Betula alnoides	Bhujpatra (H) Indian birch (E)	Bark paste is applied locally
Baschniackia himalaica	Ganelu (UPH)	Whole plant poultice is applied locally
Chenopodium album	Bathua (H)	Crushed leaves applied locally
Circium veratum	Kandaru (UPH)	Root paste is applied locally
Circum longa	Haldi (H) Indian saffron (E)	Rhizome paste is prepared using Brassica species oil and applied locally
Eclipta prostrate	Bharanjraj (H)	Leaf juice is squeezed locally for quick healing
Eclipta alba	Bhangra (H)	Pounded leaves with oil of kusum is applied
Erythrma variegate	Badisa (APC)	Leaf juice is applied locally
Euphorbiapilosa	Chuplya (UPH)	Latex of plant is applied locally
Jatropha gossypifolia	Lal-gab-jara (Lodhas)	Piece of root is tied around the neck
Lens culninaris	Musuro (N)	Fried seeds are mixed with curds and given locally until recovery in cases of mechanical injuries to anus
Oroxylum indicum	Sonpatha (H)	Seeds fried in rape oil (Brassica napus) and made in to paste are applied locally on wounds and cracks
Picorrhixa scrophulariiflora	Kutki (N)	Root paste is applied locally as antiseptic for speedy healing
Prunus amygdalus	Badam (H)	Paste is made with equal amount of cow’s butter with half the amount of salt and applied locally
Solena heterophylla	Chengor (santhal)	Leaf juice is applied locally
Syzygium cumini	Jamun (H)	Stem bark or fruit is given orally
Tarrena asciatica	Kommichetu (APR)	Leaf infusion is given orally in plough injuries
Trachyspermun ammi	Jwano (N) Ammi or Bishop’s weed (E)	Seed paste is applied locally
Tridox procumbens	Balapaku (APC)	Fine leaf paste with a pinch of lime is applied locally
Bergenia stracheyi	Gatlis (L)	Root paste applied locally
Codonopsis rotundifolia	Kaerempo (L)	Root poultice is used to stop cutaneous eruptions
Trapopogon dubis	Budege (K)	Latex is applied on heel wounds
Rumex orientalis	Bedahabul (K)	Root and leaves on boils
Indigofera heterantha	Keiche (K)	Flower infusion on wound
Euphorbia helioscopia	Gurschel (K)	Latex applied on skin eruptions
Datura stramonium	Datur (L/K)	Leaf poultice on eruptions
Bibersteinia emodi	Drakspore (L)	Plant used to treat wound, cuts, ulcers
Codonopsis ovale	Ludut (L)	Leaf poultice applied on wounds

Name of Plant		Part(s) Used and mode of usage
Botanical Name	Local Name (Region)	Part(s) Used and mode of usage
Basella alba	Poi-ara (Santhal)	Dried stem burnt in a sealed earthen pot until a fine powder is obtained which is made as a balm with oil of Schleichera oleosa and applied locally
Cuscuta reflexa	Amarbel (H)	Whole plant extract is used locally
Eclipta alba	Bhangra (H)	Pounded root is used with oil of kusum
Lygodium flexuosum	Durga-japhi (Santhal)	Root powder is applied locally
Madhuca longifolia	Mahua (H)	Seed oil is applied locally
Trachspermum ammi	Jwano (N)	Seed paste is applied locally
Woodfordia fruticosa	Dhai (H) Fire flame bush (E)	Decoction of leaves is applied locally

Name of Plant		Part(s) Used and mode of usage
Botanical Name	Local Name (Region)	Part(s) Used and mode of usage
Betula alnoides	Bhurjpatra (H)	Bark paste applied locally
Caltha palustris	Mamiri (H)	Root paste applied locally
Carissa opaca	Karaunda (H)	Root paste applied locally
Canthium parviflorum	Balasa (APR)	Decoction of leaves is poured locally
Caryopteris odorata	Karwi (UPH)	Leaf juice is applied locally
Filipendula vestita	Toser (UPH)	Leaf paste is applied locally
Micromeria biflora	Gorakhphan (UPH)	Whole plant paste is applied locally
Milletlia racemosa	Galuga (APR)	Root paste is applied locally
Morina longifolia	Biskandra (UPH)	Root paste is mixed with camphor and applied
Neolitsea pallens	Kaula (UPH)	Seed oil is applied locally
Schleichera oleosa	Kusum (H) Honey tree (E)	Seed paste is applied locally
Tectona grandis	Sagwan (H) Teak tree (E)	Wood powder mixed with mustard oil is applied locally
Prunus persica	Aaruu (H) Peach tree (E)	Juice of young leaves mixed with common salt and applied locally to expel maggots
Syzygium cumini	Jamun (H) Black plum (E)	Bark paste is applied locally to eliminate maggots
Filipendula spp.	Perennial herbaceous flowering plant	Leaf paste is applied locally on maggot wounds
Mimosa pudica	Lajjavanthi (H) Touch-me-not (E)	Leaves given as fodder to treat maggots
Allium sativum	Lasun (H) Garlic (E)	Bulb paste is applied locally
Crotalaria linifolia	Narrow-leaved crotalaria (E)	Whole plant is powdered with salt and applied externally