Accelerated Full-Thickness Wound Healing by a Topical Ointment Formulated with Lobelia alsinoides Lam. Ethanolic Extract

TL;DR

A topical ointment made from Lobelia alsinoides ethanolic extract significantly accelerates wound healing in rats compared to a standard treatment.

Contribution

This study demonstrates the superior wound-healing efficacy of a novel 10% Lobelia alsinoides ointment in preclinical models.

Findings

10% LT ointment accelerated wound contraction to 99.33% by Day 16 in rats.

LT improved collagen deposition and angiogenesis without toxicity.

LT outperformed Silverex™ in epithelialization time and tensile strength.

Abstract

Chronic wounds present a major clinical challenge, often aggravated by infection and rising antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated the wound-healing efficacy of Lobelia alsinoides Lam., an ethnomedicinal herb, formulated as a topical ointment containing its ethanolic extract (LT). Phytochemical profiling identified high levels of phenolics, terpenoids, and tannins, while in vitro assays demonstrated strong antioxidant, broad-spectrum antimicrobial, and cytocompatible properties. Wound-healing potential was evaluated using excision and incision wound models in rats treated with 5% or 10% LT ointments, with Silverex™ as the reference standard. The 10% LT formulation significantly outperformed Silverex™, accelerating wound contraction (99.33 ± 0.55% by Day 16), shortening epithelialization time (16.1 ± 0.8 days), and enhancing tensile strength (837.36 ± 16.37 g; p < 0.001). Biochemical and histological analyses confirmed improved collagen deposition, extracellular matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis, without hepatic or renal toxicity. Overall, LT exhibited statistically superior wound-healing efficacy compared with Silverex™, supporting its potential as a safe, affordable, and sustainable phytotherapeutic alternative. These findings provide strong scientific validation for L. alsinoides as an evidence-based herbal candidate for integration into modern wound care, with future studies warranted to establish mechanistic and clinical efficacy in chronic and infected wounds.

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