Preliminary evaluation of haemostatic and wound healing potential of Heliotropium europaeum

Abstract

Heliotropium europaeum has been traditionally used to stop bleeding and accelerate scarring. This study provides a scientific evaluation of Heliotropium europaeum's hemostatic and healing potential. To evaluate the haemostatic effect of Heliotropium europaeum, the time of bleeding of fresh wounds induced experimentally in rats was studied. Excision wounds were induced upon four groups; each one contains six rats to estimate the healing properties of wounds. Group-1 was assigned as control (not treated), group-2 was daily treated with Heliotropium europaeum leaf powder, group-3 was treated with Heliotropium europaeum every 6 days and group-4 was treated with a reference drug, an emulsion containing 10% of Mimosa tenuiflora extract. All the parameters were significantly tested (P < 0.05) with comparison to a group control. The use of Heliotropium europaeum significantly shortened the bleeding time. The rats which were daily treated with Heliotropium europaeum healed in 12 days. This time period was significantly shorter than the control groups. Wound excision was uniformly induced randomly on the dorsum of rats in 4 groups (tested support and control). The post healing biopsies were histologically assessed, revealed a better healing quality, and continue complete tissue regeneration, abundant and well organized network of collagen fibers, and low numbers of inflammatory cells. The experimental data revealed that Heliotropium europaeum displayed remarkable haemostatic and wound healing activities.