Research on wound healing drugs is a developing area in modern biomedical sciences. Scientists who are trying to develop newer drugs from natural resources are looking toward the Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine. Several drugs of plant, mineral, and animal origin are described in the Ayurveda for their wound healing properties under the term Vranaropaka. Most of these drugs are derived from plant origin. Some of these plants have been screened scientifically for the evaluation of their wound healing activity in different pharmacological models and patients, but the potential of most remains unexplored. In a few cases, active chemical constituents were identified. Some Ayurvedic medicinal plants, namely, Ficus bengalensis, Cynodon dactylon, Symplocos racemosa, Rubia cordifolia, Pterocarpus santalinus, Ficus racemosa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Berberis aristata, Curcuma longa, Centella asiatica, Euphorbia nerifolia, and Aloe vera, were found to be effective in experimental models. This paper presents a limited review of plants used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Sharma S. Ayurvedic drug production, regulatory status in India, domestic and export market . Proc. 4th Int. Sem. Ayurvedic education, research and drug standardisation—a global perspective, Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar, India, January 5-7, 2003; p. 4-15 .
6. Shankaran P. Inflammation and repair. In: Prasad GC, Udupa KN, editors. Sushruta's contribution to surgery. Varanasi, India: Indological Book House ; 1976. p. 64-70.
7.
7. Rubin E, Farber J. Repair, regeneration and fibrosis. In: Pathology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott ; 1994. p. 70-95.
8.
8. Coltran R, Kumar V, Robbins S. Cellular growth and differentiation. In: Robins pathologic basis of disease. 5th ed. 1994. p. 35-50.
9.
9. Ellis L, et al. Down regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor in a human colon carcinoma cell line transfected with an antisense expression vector specific for c-SRC . J Biol Chem1998;273(2): 1052-1057 .
12. Mishra B. Bhavaprakash Nighantu (Hindi). 7th ed. Chunekar K, Pandey G, editors. Varanasi, India: Chaukhamba Bharati Academy ; 1986.
13.
13. Bhogika M. Dhanwantari Nighantu (Hindi). 1st ed. Ojha J, Mishra U, editors. Varanasi, India: Adarsh Vidya Niketan ; 1985.
14.
14. Das A. Vranaroga chikitsa. In: Ayurveda Siksha (Bengali). Calcutta: Kalika Press ; 1892.
15.
15. Iyer S. Indian medicinal plants. Warrier PK, Namibiar VPK, Ramakanthy C, editors. Madras: Oriental Longman ; 1995. p. 40-51.
16.
16. Deshmukh K, Shrotri D, Aiman R. Isolation of a glycaemic principle from the bark of Ficus bengalensis Linn . Ind J Physiol Pharmacol1960;4: 182-182 .
17.
17. Jogelkar G, Shrotri D, Aiman R, et al. Further studies on Ficus bengalennsis Linn: Toxicity tests . Ind J Med Res1962;50: 737-739 .
18.
18. Chopra R, Chopra I, Handa, K, et al. G. glabra. In: Chopra's indigenous drugs of India. 2nd reprint. Calcutta: Academic Publishers ; 1994. p. 61-63,
19.
Chopra R, Chopra I, Handa, K, et al. G. glabra. In: Chopra's indigenous drugs of India. 2nd reprint. Calcutta: Academic Publishers ; 1994. p. 351-353,
20.
Chopra R, Chopra I, Handa, K, et al. G. glabra. In: Chopra's indigenous drugs of India. 2nd reprint. Calcutta: Academic Publishers ; 1994. p. 673-674.
21.
19. Trivedi C, Shinde S, Sharma R. Preliminary phytochemical & pharmacological studies on Ficus racemosa (Gular) . Ind J Med Res1969;57: 1070-1070 .
22.
20. Agarwall S, Agarwal S. Preliminary observations on leukaemia specific agglutinins from seeds . Ind J Med Res1990;92: 38-42 .
23.
21. Kirtikar K, Basu B. Ficus bengalensis. In: Batter E, Caius JF, Mhaskur KS, editors. Indian medicinal plants. Vol. I-II, M/S. Dehradoon: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh ; 1975. p. 101-106,
24.
21. Kirtikar K, Basu B. Ficus bengalensis. In: Batter E, Caius JF, Mhaskur KS, editors. Indian medicinal plants. Vol. I-II, M/S. Dehradoon: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh ; 1975. p. 727-729,
25.
21. Kirtikar K, Basu B. Ficus bengalensis. In: Batter E, Caius JF, Mhaskur KS, editors. Indian medicinal plants. Vol. I-II, M/S. Dehradoon: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh ; 1975. p. 825-829,
26.
21. Kirtikar K, Basu B. Ficus bengalensis. In: Batter E, Caius JF, Mhaskur KS, editors. Indian medicinal plants. Vol. I-II, M/S. Dehradoon: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh ; 1975. p. 1303-1306,
27.
21. Kirtikar K, Basu B. Ficus bengalensis. In: Batter E, Caius JF, Mhaskur KS, editors. Indian medicinal plants. Vol. I-II, M/S. Dehradoon: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh ; 1975. p. 1509-1513.
28.
22. Kinoshita T, Saitoh T, Shibata S. A new isoflavone from licorice root . Chem Pharm Bull1978;26(1-2) :141-3 .
29.
23. Gujral M, Sarren K, Phakan D, et al. Anti-arthritic activity of glycyrrhizin in adrenolectomised rats . Ind J MedSc1961;15: 625-625 .
30.
24. Tangri K, Seth P, Parmar S, et al. Biochemical study of anti-inflammatory property of glycyrrhetic acid . Ind J Physiol Pharmacol1964;8:31-31 .
31.
25. Rastogi R, Mehrotra B. Compendium of Indian medicinal plants. Vol. 2. New Delhi: C.S.I.R. ; 1991.
32.
26. Bodding P. The Santal medicine and connected folklore. Calcutta: Asiatic Society ; 1956.
33.
27. Sensarma P. The Agni Purana. In: Plants in the Indian Puranas—an ethnological investigation. Calcutta: Naya Praksh ; 1989. p. 70-95.
34.
28. Bappalal V. Some controversial drugs in Indian medicines. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chowkambha orientalia ; 1982. p. 120-123,
35.
28. Bappalal V. Some controversial drugs in Indian medicines. 1st ed. Varanasi: Chowkambha orientalia ; 1982. p. 159-160.
36.
29. Satyavati G, Raina M, Sharma M. Ficus (Urticaceae). In: Medicinal plants of India. Vol. I, II. New Delhi: Ind. Council of Med. Res ; 1976.
37.
30. Hartwell J. Plants used against cancer: a survey. Lloydia1969;32: 153-205 .
38.
31. Sanmugasundaram K, Sitapathy P, Sanmugasundaram E. Anna Parala Sindooram and anti-atherosclerotic Indian drug . J Ethnopharmacol1983;7(3) :247-65 .
39.
32. Roman Ramos R, Alaracon-Aguilar F, Lara-lemus A, et al. Hypoglycaemic effect of plants used in Mexico as anti-diabetics . Arch Med Res1992;23(1): 59-64 .
40.
33. Vogler B, Ernst E. Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness . Br J Gen Pract1999;49(44): 823-828 .
41.
34. Somboonwong J, Thanamitramanee S, Jariyapongskul A, et al. Therapeutic effect of Aloe vera on cutaneous microcirculation and wound healing in second degree burn wound model in rats . J Med Assoc Thai2000;83(4): 417-425 .
42.
35. Chitra P, Sajithlal G, Chandrakasan G. Influence of Aloe vera on collagen turnover in healing of dermal wounds in rats . Ind J Exp Biol1998;36(9): 896-901 .
43.
36. Chitra P, Sajithlal G, Chandrakasan G. Influence of Aloe vera on the glycosaminoglycans in the matrix of healing dermal wounds . J Ethnopharmacol1998;59(3): 179-186 .
44.
37. Dhar M, Dhar M, Dhawan B, et al. Screening of Indian plants for biological activity: part I . Ind J Exptl Biol1968;6(4): 232-247 .
45.
38. Dutta N, Iyer N. Anti-amoebic value of Berberine and Kurchi alkaloids . J Ind Med Asson1968;50: 349-349 .
46.
39. Choudhury B, Sabir M, Bhide V. Berberine in giardiasis . Indian Paediatrics1972;9: 143-143 .
47.
40. Sharada D. Berberine in the treatment of diarrhoea in infancy and childhood . J Ind Med Assn1970;54: 22-22 .
48.
41. Marita H, Yamamiya, Takeya K, et al. New anti-humar bicyclic hexapeptides, RA-XI, XII, XIII and XIV from Rubia cordifolia . Chem Pharm Bull1992;40(5): 1352-1354 .
49.
42. Bentley R, Trimen H. Medicinal plants. London: J & A Churchill, New Burlington Street ; 1880.
50.
43. Ravindranath B, Seshadri T. Structural studies on santalin permethyl ether . Phytocmeistry1973;12: 2781-2781 .
51.
44. Mehta C, Gupta U, Srivastava V, et al. Pharmacological studies on Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. (Red Panders) . J Res Ind Med Yoga Homoep1979;14(1): 594-594 .
52.
45. Dhawan B, Dubey M, Mehrotra B, et al. Screening of Indian plants for biological activity, part IX . Ind J Exptl Biol1980;18: 594-594 .
53.
46. Bijoylakshmi K, Mishra S, Prasad S. Nematicidal properties of some indigenous plant materials against second stage juvenile of Meloidogyne incognita (Kuffoid & white) Chitwood . Ind J Entemol1979;41: 326-326 .
54.
47. Pakrashi S, Mukhopadhyaya S, Bhattacharyya U, et al. Medicinal and aromatic plants of West Bengal, Dept. of Science and Technology & NES, Govt. of W. B. , W. B. Academy of Science and Technology; 2001.
55.
48. Sen C, Khanna S, Gordillo G, et al. Oxygen, oxidants and anti-oxidants in wound healing: an emerging paradigm . Ann NY, Acad Sci2002;957: 239-249 .
56.
49. Mehra K, Mikuni I, Gupta U, et al. Curcuma longa (Linn.) drops in corneal wound healing . Tokai J Exp Clin Med1984;9(1): 27-31 .
57.
50. Suguna L, Sivakumar P, Chandrakona G. Effects of Centella asiatica extract on dermal wound healing in rats . Ind J Exptl Biol1996;34(12): 1208-1211 .
58.
51. Tennai R, Zanaboni G, De Agostini M, et al. Effect of the triterpenoid fraction of Centella asiatica on macromolecules of the connective tissue matrix in human skin fibroblast cultures . Ital J Biochem1986;37(2): 69-77 .
59.
52. Rasik A, Shukla A, Patnaik G, et al. Wound healing activity of latex of Euphorbia nerifolia Linn . Ind J Pharmacol1996;28: 107-109 .
