Wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties of Ranunculus pedatus and Ranunculus constantinapolitanus: A comparative study

Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Turkish folk medicine Ranunculus species are used for wound healing and for the treatment of rheumatism. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties of Ranunculus pedatus and Ranunculus constantinapolitanus. Material and methods: In vivo wound healing activity of the extracts prepared from Ranunculus pedatus and Ranunculus constantinapolitanus was evaluated by linear incision and circular excision wound models. Hydroxyproline content of the treated tissues was also assessed. We also studied the anti-inflammatory activity using Whittle method with some modifications. Results: Methanolic extract of Ranunculus pedatus showed significant wound healing effect both in incision (31.4%) and excision (55.74%) wound models. Methanolic extract of both Ranunculus pedatus and Ranunculus constantinapolitanus demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity with the inhibition value of 26.2% and 23.3% respectively, at the dose of 100 mg/kg. Hydroxyproline content of the tissues treated with the methanolic and aqueous extracts of Ranunculus pedatus and methanolic extract of Ranunculus constantinapolitanus were found to be significantly higher than that of the other extracts. Conclusion: The experimental data revealed that Ranunculus pedatus showed significant wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.