Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

This study integrates ethnopharmacology with modern analytical science to develop and evaluate a novel phytotherapeutic strategy for wound care. Focusing on the Wound Healing Activity of Curcuma longa and Tridax procumbens-two plants with established traditional the research pursued a dual objective. First, a comprehensive phytochemical profile of the individual ethanolic extracts was established. Preliminary screening confirmed the presence of key bioactive classes, including tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Subsequently, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of Tridax procumbens provided a detailed metabolomic fingerprint, identifying 47 distinct volatile and semi-volatile compounds, thereby offering a chemical basis for its purported activity.

The second phase involved translating these chemical insights into functional efficacy. The extracts were formulated into topical ointments and rigorously tested on an excision wound model in Wistar albino rats. Prior to this, an acute dermal toxicity study confirmed the safety of the formulations, showing no adverse effects up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg. In the wound healing assessment, both the Tridax procumbens (HF1) ointments & Curcuma longa (HF2) demonstrated significant therapeutic outcomes, comparable to the standard drug silver sulfadiazine. Treatment groups exhibited a markedly accelerated rate of wound contraction and a significantly reduced epithelialization period compared to the control, visually corroborated through macroscopic imaging.

This study scientifically validates the traditional wound-healing use of Curcuma longa and Tridax procumbens, linking their efficacy to a rich profile of bioactive compounds. The findings establish these extracts as promising, evidence-based candidates for developing standardized natural ointments. Future work should focus on isolating the key synergistic compounds and clarifying their molecular mechanisms. Ultimately, clinical trials are essential to translate these pre-clinical successes into human therapeutic benefits.