PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM CEPA LINN (LILIACEAE)

Abstract

To screen the wound healing activity of different extracts of Allium cepa L. in excision, incision and dead space wound models in albino rats. The tubers of Allium cepa L. (Family Liliaceae) were exhaustively defatted with petroleum ether (40-60 0 C) and the marc was subjected to continuous extraction with solvent ether, chloroform, alcohol and chloroform water I.P. All the extracts were tested for various preliminary phytoconstituents and screened for wound healing activity in excision, incision and dead space wound models in albino rats at a dose of 300 mg/k.g. B.W. by oral route. All the five extracts were also subjected to antibacterial screening by using the cup plate method. Alcoholic extract of Tubers of Allium cepa has shown better wound healing activity in excision, incision and dead space wound models as compared to chloroform and chloroform water extracts. From the results obtained it can be concluded that alcoholic extract of tubers of Allium cepa has significant wound healing activity. The enhanced wound healing activity of alcoholic extract may be due to free radical scavenging action and the antibacterial property of the phytoconstituents(viz; tannins and flavonoids) present in it which either due to their individual or additive effect fastens the process of wound healing. Presence of flavonoids and tannins in alcohol extract was also confirmed by preliminary phytochemical investigation, TLC and HPTLC methods.