Background and purpose: Appropriate treatment and care are essential to promote healing and preventing infection of wound and different approaches have been used to avoid such complications. Calotropis procera is a plant with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. properties. The aim of the present study was the evaluation the effects of latex and hydro-alcoholic extract of Calotropis procera on cutaneous wound healing in a rat model.

Materials and methods: Forty five male rats weighting 200-250g were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. Anesthesia was done by intraperitoneal administration of ketamine-xylazine combination. Then, back hairs of animals were shaved and after disinfection with betadine a circular full thickness incision with 6 mm diameter was made near the cervical vertebras. Latex and hydro-alcoholic extract of plant were poured topically on wound in two experimental groups, while in the control group normal saline was used once daily for five days.

Results: On days 4, 7, 14, and 21, after assessment of wound contraction rate, two rats from each group were euthanized and skin samples were prepared for histopathologic examination. Sections in 5 µm thicknesses were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and studied microscopically. In all days, wound contraction rate was higher in experimental groups compared to that in control group. Histopathologic examination showed that in all days other indices of wound healing were in a better state in experimental groups, but there were no any significant differences between the two experimental groups.

Conclusion: Results showed that the latex and hydro-alcoholic extract of Calotropis procera accelerate skin wound healing and decreases the duration of complete wound healing.