The efficacy and side effects of oral Centella asiatica extract for wound healing promotion in diabetic wound patients.

OBJECTIVE

To study clinical efficacy and side effects of the oral Centella asiatica extract capsule in the diabetic wound healing. And to study the side effects of Centella asiatica extract capsule.

METHODS

This prospective randomized control study enrolled two hundred diabetic patients in the department of Surgery, Thammasat University Hospital. The exclusion criterion were low immune patients, oral steroid intake, age more than 80 year and less than 18 yeas, serum albumin less than 3.0 gm/dl, uncorrected peripheral arterial diseased patients, and uncontrolled infective wound. The termination criterion were patient refusal, wound infection, delayed primary sutured wound secondary healing wound. The patients were divided into two groups randomly, groupA was Centella asiatica extract capsule group and group B was placebo group. Centella asiatica extract capsule and placebo were prescribed in each group under the random sheet. The administration was 2 capsules after meal, three times a day (50 mg of extracted asiaticoside / capsule in group A). The general symptoms, wound characteristics, wound size and depth were examined at day 7, day 14 and day 21 by the same investigator. The demographic data of the sample were analyzed by student t test and comparative wound characteristics were analyzed by Pearson Chi-Square test.

RESULTS

Wound contraction in the study group is better than placebo group but granulation tissue forming is better in the placebo group. No serious adverse reaction in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Centella asiatica extract capsule is the Thai herb preparation capsule that effective in the wound healing promotion and also suppress the scar in diabetic wound patients. There was no demonstrable serious side effect of the Centella asiatica extract capsule group. Centella asiatica extract capsule can shorten the course of diabetic wound and can be prescribed to the diabetic patients safely.