Evaluation of Some Medicinal Plants for their Antiseptic and Wound Healing Properties

Abstract

In the present investigations an attempt has been made to study the antiseptic and wound healing properties of hydroalcoholic extract of Ocimum sanctum (HEOS) and Ocimum basilicum (HEOB). Studies were also directed towards the evaluation of in vitro antibacterial and antifungal and in vivo antifungal activity of HEOS and HEOB in non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice. Safety studies (repeated dose 28 day sub acute oral toxicity) of these extracts were also carried out in rats. It may be concluded from the present investigations on HEOS and HEOB that both the plant extracts possess anticandidal activity against systemic, vaginal and superficial infections in non immunocompromised and immunocompromised conditions. The findings further suggest the anticandidal activity of both Ocimum sanctum and Ocimum basilicum, may be due to the following factors; antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds and flavonoids of both plants may contribute to anticandidal activity, nitric oxide mediated candidacidal pathway, quercetin, rosmarinic acid, rutin, and eugenol are bioactive phytoprinciples responsible for anticandidal activity, increased total leucocytes and lymphocytes develop cell mediated immunity, induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF- and#945; and IL-1and#945;. The effect of HEOS and HEOB on experimental systemic candidiasis in non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice was studied. The data reveal that the mortality rate is high in both vehicle treated, non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice. However, the mortality rate is lower in HEOS and HEOB treated groups. Dissemination of C.albicans in various organs reveals significant number of cfu in brain, heart, liver, lungs, kidney and intestine. Number of cfu reduce significantly in both non immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice treated with HEOS and HEOB. Histopathology of intestine, liver and kidney also supports these findings. They may be used as complementary medicine in antifungal chemotherapy.