Icariin lessened pain perception and ameliorated cutaneous wound healing in rats

Icariin, a flavonoid is a compound extracted from plants of the genus Epimedium which are commonly known as Horny goat weed or Yin Yang Huo. The extracts of the plants have been used in many diseases and disorders over the last 2000 years, especially in Chinese traditional medicine. Anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, neuron protective, immunoprotective, anti-osteoporotic, aphrodisiac effects are few among the several properties possessed by icariin. There are many reports on icariin as a potential agent in the promotion of damaged bones healing as well as in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Mi and co-workers (2018) injected icariin around cutaneous wound daily for 10 days which enhanced healing in Sprague Dawley rats. Topical application of a drug in ointment base in the treatment of cutaneous wound is relatively easier and less painful when compared to injection. Here, we evaluated the cutaneous wound healing potential of topically applied icariin ointment on day 14 post-wounding in adult Wistar rats.