PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF ANTI-OXIDANT AND WOUND HEALING CAPACITY IN ACHYRANTHES ASPERA L STEM

The present study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical profile, antioxidant potential, and wound healing activity of the ethanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera L. stem. Although the plant is widely used in traditional medicine for treating wounds and oxidative stress-related disorders, limited scientific evidence is available regarding the medicinal value of its stem. Therefore, this investigation aimed to validate its pharmacological potential through experimental studies. The plant material was subjected to organoleptic, morphological, and physicochemical evaluation for authentication and quality assessment. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and steroids. Thin layer chromatography confirmed important constituents such as rutin, gallic acid, and flavone glycosides. Quantitative estimation showed total phenolic content of 108 mg GAE/g DW and total flavonoid content of 160.2 mg QE/g DW. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and FRAP assays. The extract exhibited strong free radical scavenging activity with 86.39% inhibition at 100 µg/ml in the DPPH assay and significant ferric reducing power in the FRAP method. Acute toxicity studies as per OECD guideline 423 confirmed safety up to 2000 mg/kg body weight. In the excision wound model using Wistar albino rats, the extract showed dose-dependent wound contraction and reduced epithelialization period, with 400 mg/kg showing activity comparable to Nitrofurazone.