Background. Ixora coccinea L. (Rubiaceae) has been documented for traditional use in
hypertension,
menstrual irregularities,
sprain, chronic
ulcer, and
skin diseases. In the present study, I. coccinea was subjected to in vitro and in vivo wound healing investigation. Methods.
Petroleum ether,
chloroform,
methanol, and water sequential I. coccinea leaves extracts were evaluated for in vitro
antioxidant, antimicrobial, and fibroblast proliferation activities. The promising I. coccinea
methanol extract (IxME) was screened for in vivo wound healing activity in Wistar rat using circular excision model.
Wound contraction measurement,
hydroxyproline quantification, and western blot for
collagen type III (COL3A1),
basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and Smad-2, -3, -4, and -7 was performed with 7-day postoperative
wound granulation tissue.
Gentamicin sulfate (0.01% w/w)
hydrogel was used as reference standard. Results. IxME showed the potent antimicrobial,
antioxidant activities, with significant fibroblast proliferation inducing activity, as compared to all other extracts. In vivo study confirmed the wound healing accelerating potential of IxME, as evidenced by faster
wound contraction, higher
hydroxyproline content, and improved histopathology of granulation tissue. Western blot analysis revealed that the topical application of I. coccinea
methanol extract stimulates the
fibroblast growth factor and Smad mediated
collagen production in
wound tissue.