The Healing Effect of Arnebia Euchroma Ointment versus Silver Sulfadiazine on Burn Wounds in Rat

Abstract

Background: Burn is still a majordevastating condition in emergency medicine departments among both genders and all age groups in all developed and developing countries, leading to physical, psychological scars and economical burden. The present study aimed to determine the healing effect of topical treatment with Arnebia euchroma on second-degree burn wound in rats.

Methods: Fifty rats were divided into 4 equal groups receiving the ointment base, normal saline (NS), standard 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD), and 5% and 10% Arnebia euchroma ointments (AEO). The mean of burn area, percentage of wound contraction, histopathological and bacteriological assessments in the injured area were dtermined during the study.

Results: Average area of wound on the 10(th) day was 10.2±2.3, 8.4±2.6, 12.4±2.5, 5.9±2.2 and 5.7±2 cm(2) for ointment base, NS, 1% SSD, and 5% and 10% AEO, respectively. Wound size was significantly lower in 10% AEO than 1% SSD and control groups on the 10(th) day post-burn injury. On day 11, the percentage of wound contraction in 5% and 10% AEO was 53.9%±14.7% and 55.9±10.5% which was more than 1% SSD (15.3±10.8%). The collagen fibers were well formed and horizontally-oriented in 5% and 10% AEO groups when compared with other groups.

Conclusion: Arnebia euchroma ointment was an effective treatment for healing of burn wounds in comparison with SSD and can be regarded as an alternative topical treatment for burn wounds.

Keywords: Arnebia euchroma; Burns; Rat; Silver sulfadiazine; Wound healing.

Fig. 1

Comparison of the percentage of wound contraction between Arnebia euchroma and other groups. 5 and 10% Arnebia euchroma ointment showed a faster wound contraction

Fig. 2

Burn wound healing patterns in Normal saline (N/S), ointment Base (BO), 1% silver sulfadiazine (1% SSD) and 5 and 10% Arnebia euchroma ointment (5% A, 10% A) in rats after 4 and 16 days. Average wound size was smaller and the healing rate was faster in 5% A and 10% Arnebia euchroma ointment than other groups; p<0.001.

Fig. 3

Comparison of the histopathology of samples from second degree burn wounds on 7^th and 21^st days after treatment with ointment base (BO), normal saline (N/S), silver sulfadiazine (1% SSD), and 5% Arnebia euchroma (5% A) and 10% Arnebia euchroma (10% A). Macrophage infiltration, neovascularization and fibroblastic proliferation were more in 10% A, and 5% A, compared with 1% SSD, BO and N/S groups on the 7^th day. Also, thickness of granular cell layer and epidermal thickness extent were prominent in Arnebia euchroma groups in comparison with other groups on 7^th and 21^st days. A=5% Arnebia euchroma_7^th day, A1=5% Arnebia euchroma_21^st day, B=10% Arnebia euchroma_7^th day, B1=10% Arnebia euchroma_21^st day, C=1% Silver sulfadiazine_7^th day, C₁=1% Silver sulfadiazine_21^st day, D=Ointment base_7^th day, D₁=Ointment base_21^st day, E=Normal saline_7^th day, E₁=Normal saline_21^st day.