Study of wound healing activity of Delonix regia flowers in experimental animal models

Delonix regia, a well known plant with high medicinal value, reported to have a number of biological activities including antioxidant, and presence of flavonoids in its chemical constituents. Antioxidant property and flavonoids have been associated with wound healing actions of plants. The present study was done to investigate the wound healing properties of Delonix regia in experimental animal models. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Delonix regia flowers were prepared to study the effect on wound healing in albino rats using incision and excision wound models. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialisation, tensile strength (skin breaking strength) and estimation the hydroxyproline content. The extracts significantly promoted the healing process, as evident by an increase in wound breaking strength, percentage of wound contraction, increased hydroxyproline content and decreased epithelialisation period, suggesting the possible utilization of this plant to enhance wound healing. Key words: Delonix regia, flowers, extract, wound.