PRE-CLINICAL SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF HERBAL TULLE DRESSING FOR WOUND HEALING IN AN INCISION MODEL ON ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Postoperative wound care requires dressings that not only maintain sterility but also support rapid tissue regeneration. Many herbs such as Shigru (Moringa oleifera), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Jati Phala (Myristica fragrans), Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata), and Neem (Azadirachta indica) are well-documented in Ayurvedic literature, but their use in sterile wound dressing preparations remains underexplored. This preclinical study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel formulation, Aksheevadi Ghrita impregnated tulle gauze, in an incision wound model on Albino Wistar rats using the REEDA scale (Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation) for wound healing. Eighteen rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Group A (negative control), Group B (disease control), Group C (trial group – Aksheevadi Ghrita, impregnated tulle gauze), and Group D (standard control – 0.5% Chlorhexidine gauze). A 2 cm incision was made on each rat which was sutured back by taking 2 simple sutures with Ethilon 3.0, and dressing was done on alternate days. The observations were recorded, which revealed that Groups C and D achieved complete healing by day 10 thus significantly outperforming Groups A and B. Aksheevadi Ghrita impregnated tulle gauze proved effective as standard antiseptic dressings in promoting surgical wound healing. Along with surgical wound healing it also offers the added benefit of herbal bioactivity and non-adherence to wound surface without any skin irritation or side effects. The results support its potential as a cost-effective, biocompatible, and efficient alternative for modern postoperative wound care dressing which opens doors for further randomized clinical trials in near future.