Wound healing activity of the leaves of Tribulus terrestris (linn) aqueous extract in rats

The leaves of Tribulus terrestris(zygophyllaceae) are used traditionally in the folklore for the treatment of various kinds of wounds. The present study was undertaken to verify the effect of the leaves of T. terrestris on experimentally induced excision wound, incision wound and burn wound models in rats. Aloe vera was used as standard wound healing agent. A formulation of aqueous leaves extract in carbopol at 2.5% and 5% concentrations were prepared and applied to the wounds. In the excision and burn wound models, the animal showed significant reduction in period of epithelization and wound contraction (50%). In the incision wound model a significant increase in the breaking strength was observed. The results suggest that T. terrestris aqueous leaves extract applied topically possess wound healing activity.