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Abstract

Use of herbal drugs has received greater attention in recent times, because of their diverse nature of curing diseases, safety and well-tolerated remedies compared to conventional drugs. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the comparative wound healing activity of R. emodi and its different extracts. The study was conducted on twenty four (n=24) apparently healthy rabbits for a period of 21 days. Animals were randomly divided into four equal groups,of 6 animals each. In group A, povidone iodine ointment was used, which served as control. The animals of group B were treated with, 10% ethanolic extract ointment, group C with 10% aqueous extract ointment, group D with 10% petroleum ether extract ointment of R. emodi. Xylazine-ketamine combination was used for the introduction of general anaesthesia. Two full thickness square excisional cutaneous wounds of 1.5 x 1.5cm size, 2.5 cm apart from one another were created on either side of dorsal spine in the thoraco-lumbar region. A locally fabricated metal marker was used to demarcate the standardized wound margins. The efficacy of herb as a wound healing agent was evaluated on the basis of wound size and percentage healing. Extract treated groups showed complete and better healing. The percentage healing at the end of study period was 77.73% in control group and 100% in extract treated groups, which indicates that Rhubarb and its extracts accelerate wound healing process in rabbit model.