Herbal Cocktail Hydrogel Film (Garcinia mangostana, Centella asiatica, and Chromolaena odorata Extracts): A Novel Wound Dressing Approach

TL;DR

A new hydrogel wound dressing combining three herbal extracts is developed to promote healing in chronic and infected wounds.

Contribution

The study introduces a synergistic combination of three herbal extracts in a hydrogel optimized via design-of-experiments for wound healing.

Findings

The hydrogel dressing showed strong antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The hydrogel exhibited improved swelling capacity (188.7%) and skin-compatible pH for wound healing.

Centella asiatica extract demonstrated high biocompatibility on human keratinocytes.

Abstract

Chronic and infected wounds remain a significant clinical challenge due to delayed healing and the risk of microbial contamination. Conventional wound dressings often fail to provide comprehensive therapeutic support, necessitating the development of advanced multifunctional materials. This study aimed to develop a multifunctional hydrogel wound dressing incorporating herbal extracts from Garcinia mangostana, Centella asiatica, and Chromolaena odorata, targeting key biological functions essential for wound healing. The novelty lies in the synergistic combination of these three extracts to address multistage healing needs and the systematic optimization of the polymer matrix via a design‐of‐experiments (DOE) approach. The extracts were obtained through optimized extraction techniques and quantified using HPLC, confirming the presence of bioactive markers. Pharmacological evaluations revealed distinct and synergistic activities: Garcinia mangostana extract showed potent antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC of 7.8 μg/mL) and strong antioxidant capacity (ABTS IC50 of 26.5 μg/mL). In contrast, Centella asiatica extract demonstrated high biocompatibility on human keratinocytes (IC50 of 736.11 μg/mL), while Chromolaena odorata provided significant anti‐inflammatory and hemostatic benefits. A hydrogel base was developed using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) polymer matrix, optimized via factorial design for texture, swelling ratio, and moisture retention. The extract‐loaded hydrogel maintained skin‐compatible pH, showed improved tensile strength and flexibility, and exhibited superior swelling capacity (188.7%) compared to the blank (120.3%). Overall, the formulated hydrogel demonstrates promise as an effective wound dressing with antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, suitable for chronic or infected wound applications.

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