Development and Evaluation of Surgical Sutures from Agave americana Linn. Var. Americana.

Natural materials used to close wounds include flax, hair, grass, cotton, silk, pig bristles, and animal gut. Agaves were the source of many essential items due to its high tensile strength. Agave fibers were investigated for it’s potential use to close the topical incisions in rat. Sutures were developed i.e. Agave suture from the isolated fibers of Agave americana L. var. americana (Agavaceae) plant and were coated with the ethanolic extract of Aloe vera. These were evaluated for Physical properties which proved good tensile strength, handling properties, low tissue drag, acceptable knot security, low microbial infiltration, toxicity and faster incision wound healing in rats compared to commonly utilized surgical sutures from market. Wound healing was evaluated by observing pus formation, inflammation, incision wound closure period, tensile strength measurement and histo-pathological evaluation of healed wound tissue. All the mentioned tensile strength tests were performed by a tensile strength testing apparatus, especially designed and constructed for our purpose. According to findings Agave suture shown acceptable results and hence for can be considered for further research and utilization.