Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Sulcona® , a traditional Siddha medicine used in the treatment of burns

• Published in: Burns Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 281 - 287
• Main Authors: Baskar Suresh Kumar, P, Yamuna Gowri, K, Revathy, M, Vijayaraghavan, M, Navaneethakrishnan, K.R, Murugan, S.S, Kumaravel, T.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2014
• Subjects: Anesthetic-effects; Anesthetics - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial; BALB 3T3 Cells; Burns - drug therapy; Calcium Carbonate - pharmacology; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell-proliferation; Coconut Oil; Complex Mixtures - pharmacology; Critical Care; Dermal toxicity, Reverse mutation; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Female; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Klebsiella pneumoniae - drug effects; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Medicine, Ayurvedic; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Patch Tests; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Rats; Salmonella typhi - drug effects; Siddha-preparation; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Sulcona; Sulfur - pharmacology; Cell-proliferation; Antimicrobial; Siddha-preparation; Dermal toxicity, Reverse mutation; Sulcona; Anesthetic-effects
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2013.06.011

Abstract Sulcona, a Siddha proprietary medicine used for the treatment of burns, has been in practice for more than 50 years. This medicine has been successfully used on several burned patients with an excellent recovery and safety record. In this manuscript, we investigate some of its pharmacological and safety profiles. Treatment of cells with Sulcona induced a statistically significant increase in population doubling compared to concurrent controls in proliferating human lymphocytes as well as in Balb/c 3T3 cells, suggesting that it stimulates cell proliferation. Sulcona exhibited some antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus . Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema testing suggested that Sulcona has some anti-inflammatory properties. Patch testing showed that Sulcona has mild anesthetic effects. The above properties suggest Sulcona's pharmacological properties aidin treatment of burns. Sulcona did not show any skin irritation or sensitization or mutagenic potential suggesting that it is safe for use. Further work is necessary to elucidate its exact mechanisms of action.