Fabrication and Characterization of Phyllanthus Emblica Extract-Polyvinyl Alcohol/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium Antioxidant Hydrogel and Its Application in Wound Healing

Background: Phyllanthus emblica is a medicinal and edible plant from the Euphorbiaceae family, notable for its rich content of polyphenols and flavonoids, which provide significant antioxidant properties. To exploit the full antioxidant potential of Phyllanthus emblica, this study developed a hydrogel system incorporating polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na), integrated with Phyllanthus emblica extract, for the purpose of wound healing. Methods: The extraction process of active ingredients of Phyllanthus emblica was optimized and assessed the antioxidant composition and activity of the extract. A series of hydrogel performance evaluations were performed on the Phyllanthus emblica extract-loaded PVA/CMC-Na hydrogel (AEPE composite hydrogel). Additionally, the wound healing efficacy was evaluated through cell culture experiments and wound healing assays using BALB/C mice. Results: The findings indicated that the extraction of Phyllanthus emblica with 95% ethanol yielded an extract rich in polyphenols, primarily gallic acid and ellagic acid, demonstrating high free radical scavenging capacity and robust antioxidant activity. The hydrogel matrix containing 12% PVA and 1% CMC-Na exhibited excellent physicochemical properties. The optimized AEPE composite hydrogel enabled sustained drug release over a 24 h period, exhibited low cytotoxicity and promoted cell migration. In a mouse dorsal wound healing model, the AEPE composite hydrogel showed pronounced anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects, enhanced collagen deposition, and ultimately accelerated wound healing. Conclusions: The AEPE composite hydrogel demonstrated strong antioxidant characteristics and significant wound healing potential. Thus, this study could broaden the application prospects of Phyllanthus emblica in wound healing.