<![CDATA[Delayed healing of incisional wounds adds to patient discomfort and the burden of postoperative care, and appropriately formulated topical wound-care systems may have relevance to strategies aimed at preventing delayed healing. This preclinical study formulated topical hydrogels containing Clitoria ternatea and Zingiber officinale var. rubrum extracts, individually and combined at a verified ratio of 2:1 (red ginger:butterfly pea), and evaluated their physicochemical characteristics and macroscopic wound-healing outcomes in Wistar rats. Using a post-test control group design with a small, resource-equation-based sample (n=3 per group), 96% ethanol extracts were incorporated at 5% into a Na-CMC hydrogel; fifteen male rats received a standardized 2 cm dorsal incision and were allocated to five groups (povidone-iodine, vehicle hydrogel, red ginger, butterfly pea, and combination hydrogel). Wound length was assessed over 15 days and closure time recorded. All formulations were homogeneous and physicochemically stable (pH 5.2–6.4, adhesion 12–21 s, spreadability 4.2–4.7 cm) and contained the expected phytochemical classes. Wound length decreased progressively in all groups; mean healing time ranged from 11 to 13 days, with no statistically significant between-group difference. The combination formulation showed no descriptive or statistically demonstrated advantage over the individual extracts. These preliminary preclinical findings do not establish clinical efficacy and require confirmation in larger, methodologically stronger studies.]]>
