Background. Corticosteroid hormones are widely used to treat a variety of diseases. Corticosteriods have been shown to impair wound healing, which has become a serious clinical problem in wound care. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of topical and systemic beta glucan administration on wound healing impaired by corticosteroids.
Methods: Wistar albino rats were used for the incision and excision wound models. Percentage of wound contraction, epithelialization period, hydroxyproline level, histopathological examination, and tensile strength were evaluated.
Results: Although both systemic and local administration of beta glucan enhanced percentage wound contraction, improved epithelialization time, tensile strength, and elevated hydroxyproline level, systemic administration was found to be more effective.
Conclusion: These results indicate that systemic and topical beta glucan improve wound healing that has been impaired by corticosteroids, and that systemic administration is more effective than topical application.