Field of invention
The present invention relates to use of extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. for healing of
wounds. The present invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising
extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots. More particularly, the present invention relates to an
ointment composition comprising methanolic and/or aqueous extracts of Jatropha integerrima
Jacq. roots for wound healing
Background of the Invention
Wound as a medical entity is a common clinical problem till today. Medicinal herbs are an
indispensible part of conventional medicine and these have been the basis of cure and
rehabilitation for various diseases and physiological conditions in traditional methods practiced
such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha.
India has a rich flora that has widely distributed throughout the country. Jatropha integerrima
Jacq. (Euphorbiaceae) is an erect ornamental shrub, native to West Indies that grows commonly
in South parts of India. Various parts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. are traditionally used as
purgative, styptic, emetic, in treatment of warts, tumours, rheumatism, herpes, pruritis,
toothaches, scabies, eczema and ringworm [3]. The leaves and branches of the plant have been
shown to hold cholinesterase activity while latex of the plant has demonstrated anti cancer
activity.
Though literature review on the plant Jatropha integerrima Jacq. revealed that various parts of
plant are traditionally used as in the treatment of diverse skin problem warts, herpes, pruritis,
scabies, eczema and ringworm. However, there is no scientific evidence for the same. There is
nothing in the prior art which suggests or discloses the use of extracts of Jatropha integerrima
Jacq. for wound healing.
The research on wound healing drugs is a developing area in current biomedical sciences.
Several drugs from plant sources have been screened systematically for assessment of their
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wound healing activity, but the potential of most of them remains unexplored. Hence there is a
lack of safe, economic and effective pro-healing drugs for wound management which can
enhance healing as well control infection.
Objective of the Invention
The main objective of the present invention is the use of extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq.
for healing of wounds.
Another objective of the present invention is to identify, isolate and characterize the active
component in the extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. to develop more potent, safe,
economical and effective formulation for faster wound healing in normal and/or diabetic
subjects.
Another objective of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the
extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots for healing of wounds.
Summary of the Invention
In an embodiment the present invention relates to the use of extracts of Jatropha integerrima
Jacq. for healing of wounds.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition
comprising extract ofJatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an ointment composition comprising
extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots as active ingredient and one or more
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to the process of isolation of active
component from the extracts ofJatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
Detailed Description of the Invention
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In an embodiment the present invention relates to the use of extracts of Jatropha integerrima
Jacq. for healing of wounds.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of extracts of Jatropha
integerrima Jacq. for preparation of medicament for healing of wounds in normal and/or diabetic
subjects.
The extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. can be extracted by any of the conventional process
known in the art including, but not limited to, soxhlet extraction.
The extraction from Jatropha integerrima Jacq. plant can be done using any aqueous or nonaqueous
solvents including but not limited to, methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform
and/or water or combinations thereof.
The extraction is done from the various parts of the plant i.e. roots, leaves, stem, branches,
preferably, from the roots of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. plant.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition
comprising extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition
comprising effective amount of extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots as active ingredient
and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients/carrier.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for healing
wound comprising effective amount of extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots as active
ingredient and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients/carrier.
Pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention can prepared into any dosage
form such as tablets, capsules, lotions, ointments, cream and the like.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an ointment composition comprising
extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
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In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an ointment composition comprising
effective amount of extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots as active ingredient and one or
more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients/carrier.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an ointment composition for healing
wound comprising effective amount of extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots as active
ingredient and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients/carrier.
Pharmaceutically effective excipient or carrier can be any inert excipient or additive which can
be used for the preparation of dosage form and helps in the delivery of the active ingredient to
the subject.
In another embodiment the present invention relates to a process of isolation of active component
from the extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for characterization of the
active component from the extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
Example 1: Preparation of extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
The dried powder of the roots was extracted successively using following solvents in the given
order:
Table-1
Solvent for extraction
Petroleum ether
Chloroform
Methanol
Water
Method of extraction
Soxhlet extraction at (60-80° C)
Soxhlet extraction at (60-80° C)
Soxhlet extraction at (60-80° C)
Extraction using boiling water
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Example 2: Preparation of ointment comprising extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq.
roots.
The ointment base was prepared using polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 4000
(1:1). The 5% and 10% extracts, prepared according to example 1, were added separately to the
ointment base and mixed thoroughly to prepare the ointments.
Example 3: Evaluation of wound healing activity of the ointments
The ointments containing the extracts were evaluated for wound healing activity using three invivo
models viz. Excision model in mice, incision model in rats, and excision model in diabetic
rats. In each model the animals were divided into ten groups of six subjects each as follows:
Group 1: Control (treated with ointment base)
Group 2: Standard (treated with 0.2% nitrofurazone ointment)
Group 3: Treated with 5% w/w petroleum ether extract ointment.
Group 4: Treated with 10% w/w petroleum ether extract ointment.
Group 5: Treated with 5% w/w chloroform extract ointment.
Group 6: Treated with 10% w/w chloroform extract ointment.
Group 7: Treated with 5% w/w methanol extract ointment.
Group 8: Treated with 10 % w/w methanol extract ointment.
Group 9: Treated with 5% w/w aqueous extract ointment.
Group 10: Treated with 10% w/w aqueous extract ointment.
Diabetic excision wound model was studied by inducing diabetes in overnight fasted rats by
intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of Streptozocin (55mg/Kg body weight) in
0.1M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) 15 minutes after intraperitoneal administration of nicotinamide
(HOmg/Kg body weight). Glucose levels were estimated using glucose oxidase method and
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body weight was checked regularly upto 1 week of Streptozocin injection. The animals having
marked hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose > 200mg /dl) were selected for study.
The ointments were topically applied on the wounds in each group of animals once daily
throughout the study. To evaluate wound healing activity in incision wounds, tensile strength
was measured on 10n day by continuous, constant water flow technique. In excision wound
models percentage wound contraction, epithelisation time and subsequently the hydroxylproline
content was assessed. Every third day, photographs were taken and wound boundaries were
traced on a transparent paper to measure the wound areas in all the groups. After complete
epithelisation, all the animals were euthanized using diethyl ether and the regenerated tissue was
removed to determine hydroxyproline content. The hydroxyproline content is a measure of
collagen deposition in the skin.
Aqueous extract (10% w/w) ointment was found to be most potent and it increased the tensile
strength of incision wounds by 67.37%. Epithelisation period of excision wounds in mice for
methanol and aqueous extracts (10% w/w) was found to be 12.83 and 12.67 days, respectively,
while standard treated animals showed complete epithelisation in 13.17 days. In diabetic rats,
the epithelisation period of standard, methanol extract (10% w/w) and aqueous extract (10%
w/w) treated group was found to be 13.0, 11.33, 11.67 days, respectively. Hydroxyproline
content also determined to be more in all the test ointment treated animals when compared to
standard ointment treated groups.
The results reveal that Jatropha integerrima Jacq. root extracts, particularly methanol and
aqueous extracts have significant wound healing property as evident from the significant
reduction epithelisation time and elevation in the hydroxylproline content.
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We Claim:
1. Use of extracts of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. for the preparation of medicament for
healing wounds in the subjects.
2. A pharmaceutical composition comprising extract of Jatropha integerrima Jacq. roots.
3. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 wherein the composition further
comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients/carrier.
4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 wherein the composition is the
dosage form selected from the group consisting of tablets, capsules, ointments, creams,
lotions.
5. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3 wherein the composition is in the
form of ointment.
6. A process of isolation of active component from the extracts of Jatropha integerrima
Jacq. roots.
7. A process of isolation according to claim 6 wherein the isolated active components are
further characterized using analytical techniques.