Anti-inflammatory and Wound Healing Activities of Aloe vera, Honey and Milk Ointment on Second-Degree Burns in Rats

Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2016 Sep;15(3):241-7. doi: 10.1177/1534734616645031. Epub 2016 May 23.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was morphological and morphometric investigation of burn healing impacts of an honey, milk, and Aloe vera (HMA) ointment on experimentally induced second-degree burns, to approve the medicinal basis of its use in Iranian traditional medicine. A total of 21 male Albino rats weighing 200 to 300 g were divided into 3 groups of 7, including (1) control group, (2) positive control group, and (3) the treatment group that were treated with eucerin, silver sulfadiazine 3% and HMA ointment 5% respectively.After anesthetizing, the second-degree burns (1 cm(2) areas) were made on the back of the animals using a digital controlled hot plaque, and each group was treated topically, based on the time scheduled. Then, skin punch biopsies were obtained on the 1st, 14th, and 28th days of post-burn induction; processed; and stained using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome methods. The results showed that HMA ointment induces cell proliferation, increasing the wound closure rate, blood vessel counts, and collagen fiber density in treated animals. It also reduced the wound secretions, inflammation, and scar formation. According to the obtained morphological, morphometric results, we concluded that the traditional HMA ointment, which is rich in therapeutic biomaterials and minerals, has multiple healing effects on burn wounds in rats.

Keywords: biomaterial; burn; morphometric; wound healing.

MeSH terms

  • Aloe*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / pharmacology
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Burns / pathology
  • Burns / physiopathology
  • Burns / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Honey*
  • Male
  • Milk*
  • Ointments / pharmacology
  • Phytotherapy / methods
  • Rats
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Silver Sulfadiazine / pharmacology*
  • Skin* / drug effects
  • Skin* / pathology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Ointments
  • Silver Sulfadiazine