The healing potential of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Sphaeranthus amaranthoides, Linn. (Asteraceae) (SAE) for treatment of dermal wounds in wistar rats was studied on excision wound models. Various parameters studied are epithelization and wound contraction. The extract was applied in thedorsal thoracic region of six excised wounded models once in a day for 16 days. The results obtained indicate that Sphaeranthus amaranthoides accelerates the wound healing process by decreasing the surface area of wound. Framycetin sulphate was used as positive control complete epithelization was observed within 16 days with Sphaeranthus amaranthoides The extract significantly enhanced the rate of wound contraction and the period of epithelialization comparable to framycetin sulfate.

KEYWORDS: Sphaeranthus amaranthoides;Asteraceae;Wound contraction; Epithelialization; framycetin sulfate.