Abstract

In this study, the wound healing activity of methanolic extract of the leaves of plant Ficus hispida Linn. was evaluated on excision wound model. The leaves of F. hispida Linn. were successively extracted by using solvent methanol and screened for phytochemical constituents. Wistar rats (either sex) were given orally doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg body weight at 24 h intervals and their wound contraction area were calculated and wound healing were evaluated at day 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20^th. The results of phytochemical screening revealed that methanolic extract showed positive result for carbohydrates, saponins, sterols and tannin. The methanolic extract revealed significance increase in wound healing activity. The present investigation revealed that methanolic extract of F. hispida Linn. leaves increase the number of collagen tissue and this mechanism is responsible for wound healing activity. This could provide a rationale for the use of this plant as wound healer in folk medicines.

Key words: Wound healing, herbs, Ficus hispida, phyto-medicines.