EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND WOUND HEALING POTENTIAL OF POMEGRANATE PEEL GEL FORMULATION

The objective of the study was to formulate and evaluate the antioxidant activity and the wound healing effect of the Punica granatum peel extracts formulation. Tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, proteins, and phenols were present in the ethanolic extract, which is further formulated in a gel formulation. Seven herbal gel formulations were prepared using 1.5% of the gelling agent’s carbopol 940 (F1-F7). Formulations were evaluated for physical appearance, viscosity, extrudability, pH, and spreadability. The antioxidant study was evaluated in-vitro, using 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and reducing power assays. It was found that all the gel formulation has good power to inhibit DPPH and good reducing power. The antimicrobial properties were evaluated by agar well diffusion method. The result indicated that F5 and F7 exhibited good antimicrobial properties. The highest potential was observed in the F7 against E. coli and B. subtilis. Wound healing was studied using excision wounds on rat models. Treatment of wound with a gel containing 2% and 10% (w/w) ethanolic extract exhibited better-wound healing activity than the positive control. This study illustrated an excellent potential of the Punica granatum peel extracts formulation therapy on dermal wound healing, with a tentative mechanism of action related to improved collagen deposition and reduced inflammatory reaction.