Design and Development of Topical Novel Gel of Asiatic Acid from Shorea Robusta For Wound Healing Activity

Abstract

Asiatic acid is very well known triterpenoid present in species like Centella asiatica as well as has been investigated by us in the oleo-resin of S.robusta also. Many reports have suggested that various biological activities are reported for asiaticoside attributed to the asiatic acid but not to the sugar part. Further one of our preliminary study on “S.robusta & its wound healing” it has been observed that triterpenoid rich extract showed excellent activity when evaluated for its wound healing potential. Antioxidants activity and wound healing activity for asiatic acid from S.robusta has not been evaluated and reported so far. We have developed the isolation method of crude asiatic acid from oleo resin of S.robusta followed by characterization of isolated compound. We have developed different formulations having different concentration range (0.015%, 0.03%, 0.3% & 0.5% w/w) of asiatic acid in gel form in comparison with asiatic acid alone, plain gel base and standard (povidone iodine) using chitosan as a polymer. Four different concentrations of gel have been evaluated for wound healing activity and studied for release profile. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of isolated asiatic acid was found IC50 at 4.8μg/ml. it was concluded that 0.3%w/w of gel showing very good wound healing activity (higher content of hydroxyproline and collagen and tensile strength when compared to others) as well as burst release in an initial hour. Further it showed good sustain release profile compared to other gels as well as compared to asiatic acid alone. As the formulations tested showed very good wound healing activity compared to standard and gel base showing excellent wound healing potential of asiatic acid isolated from S.robusta.