Innovative wound-healing pad using extracts from the red ivy plant

In News

• • Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, have developed a multifunctional wound-healing pad derived from the medicinal red ivy plant.

Red Ivy Plant (Strobilanthes alternata)

• • Belongs to the Acanthaceae family; locally known as murikooti pacha.
  • Widely distributed across tropical regions, including India.
  • Traditionally used in folk medicine for treating cuts and wounds.

Key Scientific Developments

• • Researchers integrated nanotechnology with the plant’s medicinal properties to create advanced wound-healing pads.
  • Identified acteoside, a bioactive compound newly reported in red ivy, showing strong wound-healing potential.
  • The pad consists of an ultra-thin electrospun nanofiber layer, fabricated from biodegradable, non-toxic polymers.
  • It incorporates acteoside (for healing) and neomycin sulfate (an antibiotic for infection control).
  • Its porous architecture promotes gas exchange, allowing the wound to “breathe” and accelerating tissue recovery.