Wound healing potential of hibiscus rosa sinensis-pectin hydrogel: a preliminary study

Hibiscus rosa sinensis (HR) mucilage is a polymer with beneficial properties to facilitate wound healing: anti-inflammatory; anti-oxidant; emollient; and had been proven to increase wound contraction and tensile strength. However, intact hydrogel made up of HR mucilage solely was hard to be produced while topical application of HR mucilage gel experienced rapid clearance from wound site. Thus, this study aimed to develop a new formulation of HR mucilage combined with pectin in a hydrogel system. Then, the newly developed HR-pectin hydrogel was evaluated for its wound healing potential on partial thickness thermal bum wounds. In order to prepare HR-pectin hydrogel, mucilage from HR leaves was extracted, 0.2% w/w of it was combined with 2.5% w/w pectin, 0.8 % w/w glutaraldehyde and 0.25% w/w glycerol. Mixture was transferred into petri dishes and dried in an oven. Pectin hydrogel was prepared without the addition of HR-mucilage. Sprague dawley rats were induced with partial thickness thermal bum wound and were randomly divided into three groups: rats treated with HR-pectin hydrogel; rats treated with pectin hydrogel; and rats treated with gauze. In vivo wound healing activity was evaluated by inferring to macroscopic observation, wound size closure and histological profile. Uniform and transparent dry sheets of three-dimensional networks of HR-pectin hydrogel was produced. Results showed that HR-pectin hydrogel was able to promote faster wound healing when compared to pectin hydrogel or conventional gauze dressing by remarkably modulating the collagen synthesis. Therefore, further study regarding collagen synthesis modulation by HR-pectin hydrogel needs to be pursued.