*2.2.3. Siddha Kalimbu*

Another study revealed the wound healing ability of a polyherbal Siddha formulation, *Siddha kalimbu* consisting of 10 gm each of *Ficus spp* (*Itthi*), *Adenanthera Pavonina* (*Manjeti*), sandal‐ wood (*Santhanam*), jasmine (*malligai*), *Symplocos racemosa* (*Roxb*.) (*Vellilothram*), *Ficus hispida* (*Atthi*), *Alstonia scholaris* (*Satvin*), and dried roots of 12.5 gm of *Curcuma longa* (*Manjal*) when mixed with 60 ml of Eal oil (muscle relaxant drug), 10 ml neem oil (*Azadirachta indica*), 20 ml of coconut oil, and 10 ml *Millettia pinnata* (*Pungai*) oil. The formulation was tested on excision and incision wound models in rats, and it was reported that the Siddha treatment significantly healed the wound by synthesizing collagen and influencing the growth hormone. The topical application of the formulation increased the wound breaking strength, wound contraction, and period of epithelialization [53].

### *2.2.4. Polyherbal formulation*

Krishnamoorty *et al*. in 2012 reported an *in vitro* study of a polyherbal formulation comprising of extracts of *Wrightia tinctoria*, *Aloe vera*, *Curcuma longa*, and *Terminalia chebula*. They studied the impact of the formulation on fibroblast cell migration and proliferation using scratch wound assay technique. Fibroblast cell migration and proliferation were studied employing cell migration assay. Carbomer‐based gel with beeswax made for a novel delivery system and the formulation proved significantly effective in management of superficial wounds and first degree burns [54].

### *2.2.5. Kungiliya vennai and Kalchunna thailam*

*Vennai* (*Butter*) *and thailam* (*Balm*) are mentioned and used in Siddha medicine as wound healing bases. *Kungiliya vennai* is herbal formulation containing *Shorea robusta*, *Sesamum indicum*, and *Cocos nucifera*. It is traditionally recommended by Siddha practitioners for wound healing. *Kalchunna thailam* finds a mention in Siddha medicine for wound healing and is a preparation of limestone and coconut oil mixed in equal proportions. In an excision wound model in Sprague Dawley rats, the *Kungiliya vennai and Kalchunna thailam* treated rats showed positive outcome in the wound healing process. The preparations were comparable with the standard 2% Mupirocin ointment. The authors reported *Kungiliya vennai* has additional property of regenerating adnexal structures such as hair follicles, sweat, and sebaceous glands [55].

Few more Siddha plants which were preclinically evaluated for wound healing activity are mentioned below (**Table 2**).


**Table 2.** Siddha herbs with reported wound healing activity.

tion was tested on Wistar rats by external application till the time the wound which was created using a punch was completely healed. The study results demonstrated significant reduction in the size of the wound. The authors claimed that wound healing can be credited to one or few constituents of the medication causing collagen production and thus helping in faster

Another study revealed the wound healing ability of a polyherbal Siddha formulation, *Siddha kalimbu* consisting of 10 gm each of *Ficus spp* (*Itthi*), *Adenanthera Pavonina* (*Manjeti*), sandal‐ wood (*Santhanam*), jasmine (*malligai*), *Symplocos racemosa* (*Roxb*.) (*Vellilothram*), *Ficus hispida* (*Atthi*), *Alstonia scholaris* (*Satvin*), and dried roots of 12.5 gm of *Curcuma longa* (*Manjal*) when mixed with 60 ml of Eal oil (muscle relaxant drug), 10 ml neem oil (*Azadirachta indica*), 20 ml of coconut oil, and 10 ml *Millettia pinnata* (*Pungai*) oil. The formulation was tested on excision and incision wound models in rats, and it was reported that the Siddha treatment significantly healed the wound by synthesizing collagen and influencing the growth hormone. The topical application of the formulation increased the wound breaking strength, wound contraction,

Krishnamoorty *et al*. in 2012 reported an *in vitro* study of a polyherbal formulation comprising of extracts of *Wrightia tinctoria*, *Aloe vera*, *Curcuma longa*, and *Terminalia chebula*. They studied the impact of the formulation on fibroblast cell migration and proliferation using scratch wound assay technique. Fibroblast cell migration and proliferation were studied employing cell migration assay. Carbomer‐based gel with beeswax made for a novel delivery system and the formulation proved significantly effective in management of superficial wounds and first

*Vennai* (*Butter*) *and thailam* (*Balm*) are mentioned and used in Siddha medicine as wound healing bases. *Kungiliya vennai* is herbal formulation containing *Shorea robusta*, *Sesamum indicum*, and *Cocos nucifera*. It is traditionally recommended by Siddha practitioners for wound healing. *Kalchunna thailam* finds a mention in Siddha medicine for wound healing and is a preparation of limestone and coconut oil mixed in equal proportions. In an excision wound model in Sprague Dawley rats, the *Kungiliya vennai and Kalchunna thailam* treated rats showed positive outcome in the wound healing process. The preparations were comparable with the standard 2% Mupirocin ointment. The authors reported *Kungiliya vennai* has additional property of regenerating adnexal structures such as hair follicles, sweat, and sebaceous glands [55].

Few more Siddha plants which were preclinically evaluated for wound healing activity are

wound correction [52].

468 Wound Healing - New insights into Ancient Challenges

*2.2.3. Siddha Kalimbu*

and period of epithelialization [53].

*2.2.5. Kungiliya vennai and Kalchunna thailam*

*2.2.4. Polyherbal formulation*

degree burns [54].

mentioned below (**Table 2**).

### **2.3. Unani medicines**

Unani system of medicine has its origin in Iran and also has documented evidences of anti‐ microbial herbs possessing wound healing properties. Like Siddha, Unani system too has a mention of cow's ghee (*Roghan-e-gao*), *Shorea robusta*, etc. Following are examples of wound healing plants or medicines (*marham*) according to Unani system of medicine.

### *2.3.1. Iranian wound healing plants*

Pirbalouti *et al*. reported the wound healing properties of five traditional Iranian plants on alloxan‐induced diabetic wounds in rats. Wound area, epithelialization time, and histopatho‐ logical characteristics were studied upon treatment with *Malva sylvestris*, *Punica granatum*, *Amygdalus communis*, *Arnebia euchroma*, *and Scrophularia deserti*. The results corroborated the traditional wound healing use of the above plants [67].
