Topical anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of herbal gel of Ziziphus nummularia L. (F. rhamnaceae) leaf extract

In this study, the anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects of Ziziphus nummalaria (sedar) leaf alcoholic extract formulated gel on albino rats were determined. Carbapol and Dimethyl Sulf Oxide (DMSO) were used to prepare gels containing 20 and 30% the ethanolic extract of Z. nummalaria leaves. Topical application of 0.5 g gel formulation of the extract were used separately for anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities in wister albino rats by using Carrageenan induced paw edema and excision wound model, respectively. The extract gel formulations produced significant reduction of carrageenan induced paw edema and more rapid rate of wound reduction when evaluated with base control gel. The formulated gel 30% was relatively more active than marketed formulation (Betadine ^®) for wound repair. The anti-inflammatory and wound repairing study rationalize the traditional claim of Z. nummalaria leaves extracts.