Wound healing effect of silver nanoparticles from Tridax procumbens leaf extracts on Pangasius hypophthalmus

Wound healing is a complex process and has been the subject of intense research for a long time. Plants are natural sources which have been widely used for wound healing. The recent emergence of nanotechnology has provided a new pharmacological modality for silver nanoparticles to be used in wound healing process. Silver nanoparticles are a good source for drug targeting due to its high chemical stability, catalytic activity, wound healing activity and antimicrobial nature.

In this study Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Tridax procumbens leaf extract. Nanoparticles were characterized using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The efficacy of the synthesized silver nanoparticles on wound healing was investigated in Pangasius hypohthalmus.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from the leaf extract of Tridax procumbens was found to be cost effective and time conserving. We compared the effectiveness of the synthesized silver nanoparticles from Tridax procumbens on wound healing with silver nitrate and leaf extract. Collagen deposition and fibrosis formation occurred much earlier on wounds treated with silver nanoparticles from Tridax procumbens.

The synthesized Silver nanoparticles from Tridax procumbens showed enhanced wound healing activity in fish, also improving the epithelialisation and appearance of the wound when compared to that of silver nitrate and leaf extracts of Tridax procumbens.