Flash chromatographic separation and diabetic wound healing study of Hemigraphis alternata leaves extract

Diabetes, a multifaceted disorder associated with delayed wound healing due to persistent hyperglycaemia and related comorbidities, which increases morbidity, mortality and worsens quality of life. Hemigraphis alternata possess wound healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of H. alternata leaf extract in the treatment of diabetic wounds. Hydroalcoholic extract from H. alternata leaves was cold-extracted and fractionated via flash chromatography. Collected fractions underwent phytochemical screening for active constituents. An emulgel with the extract was developed and tested for wound healing in STZ + Nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.Flash chromatographic separation of extract yielded 12 fractions and its phytochemical screening showed presence of various phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, etc which might responsible for wound healing. Wound closure rate in rats treated with formulated emulgel was significantly faster than the untreated diabetic rats. The emulgel group showed low level pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and high concentration of VEGF. This study has shown that H. alternata emulgel has a significant potential in diabetic wound management by enhancing the release of VEGF and reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines which induces cell proliferation, migration and wound contraction.