Pharmacological evaluation of ameliorative effect of aqueous extract of Cucumis sativus L. fruit formulation on wound healing in Wistar rats

Aim: The aim of present investigation was to formulate and evaluate the ameliorative effect of aqueous extract of Cucumis sativus L. fruit cream formulation on experimentally induced wounds in rats. Materials and Methods: The cream was formulated using soft white paraffin base containing 2.5%, 5%, and 10% w/w of aqueous extract of of Cucumis sativus L. fruit. Excision wounds of size 300 mm 2 and 2 mm depth were used for the study of rate of contraction of wound and epithelization. All the three formulations were evaluated for various pharmaceutical parameters such as pH, viscosity, spreadability, and acute skin irritation study. Epithelialization period, wound contraction, scar width, and histopathological evaluation parameters were used for pharmacological evaluation of wound healing activity of the formulation. Statistical Analysis: All the results were expressed as mean±SEM. Data analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 software (GraphPad, San Diego, CA, USA). Statistical comparisons were made between drug-treated groups and disease control animals. Data of disease activity index were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance; Dunnett's multiple range test was applied for post hoc analysis, whereas data of wound area and percent wound contraction were analyzed using two-way repeated analysis of variance, Bonferroni's multiple range test was applied for post hoc analysis. A value of P Results: Cream formulation of AECS when applied topically did not show any sign and symptoms of skin irritation. The treatment with aqueous extract of C. sativus fruit cream formulation (2.5%, 5%, and 10% w/w) resulted in significance decrease ( P P P P Conclusion: The present investigation demonstrates that by virtue of its antioxidant property and presence of the flavanoids content in C. sativus may responsible for wound contraction and elevated rate of epithelization in wound healing in laboratory animals.