Development and Evaluation of a Poly-Herbal Gel Containing Tephrosia purpurea and Martynia annua for Anti-Hemorrhoidal Activity
Keywords:
Hemorrhoids, Poly-herbal gel, Tephrosia purpurea, Martynia annua, Anti-inflammatory activity, Wound healing, Topical formulation, Herbal therapyAbstract
Hemorrhoidal disease is a common anorectal disorder characterized by inflammation, venous congestion, bleeding, pain, itching, and prolapse of anal tissues. Conventional therapies including corticosteroids, local anesthetics, venotonics, and surgical interventions often provide temporary symptomatic relief and are associated with adverse effects, recurrence, postoperative complications, and poor patient compliance.
Therefore, the present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate a poly-herbal gel containing Tephrosia purpurea and Martynia annua for anti-hemorrhoidal activity. Ethanolic extracts of both medicinal plants were prepared and subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening, which revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, glycosides, alkaloids, and saponins.
Poly-herbal gel formulations were prepared using Carbopol 934 and HPMC as gelling agents with different concentrations of plant extracts. The prepared formulations were evaluated for physicochemical parameters such as appearance, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, viscosity, extrudability, and stability. Pharmacological activities were assessed using carrageenan-induced paw edema, hot plate test, excision wound model, and croton oil-induced hemorrhoid model in rats. The optimized formulation exhibited satisfactory physicochemical characteristics with good stability and acceptable topical properties.
Significant reduction in edema, anal swelling, bleeding, and pain was observed in treated groups compared with control animals. Histopathological studies demonstrated improved epithelialization, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and enhanced tissue healing. The synergistic pharmacological effects of Tephrosia purpurea and Martynia annua may be attributed to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. The findings suggest that the developed poly-herbal gel could serve as a safe, effective, and patient-friendly alternative for the management of hemorrhoidal disease.
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