An investigation of antimicrobial and wound healing potential of Allium ascalonicum Linn

The pharmacological properties of Allium ascalonicum Linn., commonly called shallot, have been reported as including those that are antibacterial and antioxidant. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect and wound-healing activity ofthe ethanolic extracts of Allium ascalonicum Linn. (AAE). The antimicrobial activity of AAE was tested in vitro against using the disc diffusion method and a broth micro-dilution technique to determine the minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) and the minimal microbicidal concentrations (MMC). Wound-healing activity of the extract was performed on rat test subjects. The AAE showed potential antimicrobial activity by inhibiting gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. MIC and MMC varied from 25-50 mg/ml and 25-200 mg/ml, respectively. After surgery 14 days, wound contractions oftreated groups and standard group were 78.61 +/- 1.20%, 78.55 +/- 1.93% and 100%, respectively; but, in the control group, wound contraction was 64.90 +/- 3.55%. Histological studies showed the complete epidermis and found the collagen fibers and fibroblasts as similar appearance as standard group in dermis. The results of histological evaluation have confirmed remarkable wound-healing activities of AAE. Taken together the present study provides evidence that AAE extract processes antimicrobial and wound-healing activities.