The effect of Indian Qost (Costus speciosus) on the healing of oral incision in rabbits

Background. Costus speciosus is a medicinal and ornamental plant widely used in several indigenous systems of medicine to treat various ailments. Its bioactive components are believed to have antimicrobial properties and may accelerate wound healing. Methods. One concentration of Costus speciosus extract (8 g/100 ml distilled water) was used as a mouth rinse. Oral wounds were induced in all rabbits, which were then divided into two groups of 8 rabbits each. The first group was treated with the Costus speciosus mouth rinse three times daily, while the second group served as the control. After treatment, tissue samples were stained with H&E and examined under a light microscope using morphometric measurements to evaluate the healing effect of the extract on oral incisions. Results. Oral irrigation showed a healing effect three days post-wounding in the test group, while the control group exhibited severe inflammatory infiltration. By day five, the treated group demonstrated nearly complete wound healing, indicating a statistically significant effect. Conclusion. Costus speciosus exhibits broad-spectrum wound-healing properties. In this study, a concentration of 8 g/100 ml was found to be the optimal treatment dose.