Normal and delayed wound healing is improved by sesamol, an active constituent of Sesamum indicum (L.) in albino rats

Ethno-pharmacological relevance: The seeds of Sesamum indicum Linn. (Pedaliaceae) has been used traditionally for the treatment of wounds in Buldhana district of Maharashtra state. Sesamol is the main anti-oxidative constituent contained mainly in the processed sesame seed oil which has not been explored scientifically for its wound healing activity. Aim of the study: To investigate the influence of sesamol (SM) on wound repair, both in normal and dexamethasone (DM) delayed healing processes in albino rats. Materials and methods: Incision, excision and dead space wounds were inflicted on albino rats (180-220 g) of either sex, under ketamine anaesthesia. Group I served as control, group II received SM 50 mg/kg i.p., group III was treated with dexamethasone (DM) i.m. (0.17 mg/kg) and SM + DM was given to group IV. The tensile strength, wound contraction, hydroxyproline, lysyl oxidase and total RNA and DNA levels (in granulation tissue) were measured. Results: The tensile strength significantly (p < 0.05) increased with SM at 471.40 +/- 14.66 g when compared to control at 300.60 +/- 9.16 g in normal and DM suppressed healing. No significant change was observed in duration of wound contraction and lysyl oxidase when compared to control at 2.98 +/- 0.10 mg. SM treated rats showed a significant (p < 0.05) rise in hydroxyproline levels at 6.45 +/- 0.45 mg when compared to control at 1.75 +/- 0.20 mg. Conclusion: These results indicate that sesamol could be a promising drug in normal as well as delayed wound healing processes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.