May 2026, Volume 4, Issue 5

Author

R. Vidhya, Sheshagiri Dixit, B.R. Prashantha Kumar and Sudharsan S

Abstract

Background: Wound repair represents a highly intricate, multi-phase biological sequence encompassing hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, as well as subsequent remodeling, while burn injuries further impede this progression due to the presence of tissue necrosis, intensified inflammatory responses and microbial infiltration. The rising challenge of antimicrobial resistance, along with escalating treatment expenses, has consequently prompted renewed attention toward plant-derived therapeutics, and Euphorbia hirta Linn., long utilized across diverse traditional medicinal systems, contains numerous bioactive constituents that exhibit considerable potential in facilitating wound healing. Methods: Once collected and identified, the whole plant was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using ethanol and then followed by fractionation. Standard procedures were employed to perform pharmacognostic as well as physicochemical evaluations, while preliminary phytochemical screening along with TLC and spectroscopic analyses was carried out. Wound-healing activity was evaluated using excision, incision, dead space and burn wound models, during which parameters such as wound contraction, epithelialization period and tensile strength were recorded. Results: With physicochemical parameters remaining within acceptable limits, the quality of the plant material was thereby confirmed. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, saponins as well as glycosides, particularly in the ethanolic extract. In comparison to the control, the extract showed a significant increase in wound contraction (92 ± 1.2% on day 12), enhanced tensile strength (378 ± 14 g) and a shortened epithelialization period (12 ± 0.9 days. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Euphorbia hirta Linn. demonstrates significant wound as well as burn wound healing activity, likely attributed to the synergistic effects of its bioactive phytoconstituents.