Synergistic effect of bismuth subgallate and borneol, the major components of Sulbogin, on the healing of skin wound

Abstract

Most skin lesions heal delay and even heal efficiently within 1-2 weeks, the healed tissue is neither aesthetically nor functionally perfect. Therefore, facilitating skin healing rate and controlling healed skin quality are major aims of drug treatment for a wound event. Bismuth subgallate (BS) and Borneol (BO) are the two components of Sulbogin, a new Vaseline-based wound healing ointment, one for treating skin wounds. Although BO has antibiotic function, while BS is widely used clinically, neither has been used specifically for wound healing. The experiment described here aimed to study the effect of BS and BO on the healing of skin wounds. This study also compared the effects of BS and BO with Flamazine cream, which is currently the most popular drug for wound healing in hospitals. Full-thickness wounds (3 cm x 3 cm x 0.2 cm) were created on the back of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. BS, BO, BS+BO, and Flamazine were then evenly applied to cheesecloth and placed over the lesion areas. The drug patches were replaced every 2-3 days until the wound areas were completely covered by epidermis in any kinds of drug treatment. The combined BS and BO treatment had the best effect on healing by decreasing lesion area, while increasing granulation tissue formation, re-epithelialization, eating behavior and reconstitution of skin appendages. This investigation showed that BS and BO have a synergistic effect on the skin wound restoration.