<i>Pilea symmeria</i>: A natural ally in antioxidant defence and wound repair in mice

Introduction: Pilea symmeria, traditionally used for wound healing in Mizoram, was evaluated for its antioxidant activity and wound healing ability using a mouse model. Methods: Mice were inflicted with excision and incision wounds. They were divided into four groups of six: Group I (negative control) animals were treated with simple ointment base (SO); group II (positive control) with povidone-iodine (PVI) 5%; groups III and IV with 5% and 10% extract ointment (PSEE) prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG), respectively. The ointment was applied topically on the wound for 16 days. The rate of wound contraction and breaking strength of the incision wound was recorded. The antioxidant status of the excision wound tissue was assessed by measuring the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). A histological examination was also conducted to support the results. Results: When compared with the SO-treated group, PVI 5%, PSEE 5%, and PSEE 10% treated groups showed a significant (P&lt;0.001) increase in antioxidant markers (GSH, GST, SOD) and a decrease in MDA levels. The result also showed a significant (P&lt;0.001) increase in the rate of wound contraction and a shortened period of epithelialization, which was confirmed by histopathology results. Moreover, the wound-breaking strength of incision wounds was significantly increased in the PVI 5%, PSEE 5%, and PSEE 10% treated groups (P&lt;0.001) compared with the SO-treated group. Conclusion: These findings validate the traditional use of P. symmeria as a wound-healing enhancer, supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for wound management.