Wound Healing Effects of Quercus Brantii and Pelargonium Graveolens Extracts in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Introduction. Wound healing comprises a complex pathophysiological process. Recent studies suggest plants play a major role as medications in wound healing. Quercus brantii and Pelargonium graveolens are 2 herbs used in Iran as a traditional remedy in speeding up the wound healing process. Materials and Methods. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 10. Two distinct groups were reserved for the 2 herb extracts and 2 groups were allocated for positive and negative controls. The animals were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine. After shaving their dorsal skin, a circular excision with an area approximation of 150 mm(2) and 2 mm deep was created. Each rat received an application of 200 mg/kg/day of its allocated treatment. On days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21, the wound areas were traced and photographed. On days 6, 12, and 18, biopsies were taken from the active peripheries. The data were collected and analyzed by statistical analysis software (SPSS for Windows Version 6, IBM, Armonk, NY). Results. The results were representative of the significant effects of Q. brantii extract on the enhancement of wound contraction velocity in comparison to nitrofurazone (on day 12, P = 0.001). According to histopathological assessments, healing in group A was significantly faster than the 3 other groups, even the positive control group (P < 0.01). Lesser inflammatory cells and fibrins in addition to more reepithelialization in group A in comparison to even positive control group, led to the potential of Q. brantii in treating wounds. Conclusion. The primary faster healing of P. graveolens plus the overall advantage of Q. brantii over nitrofurazone were confirmatory evidences of the traditional use of these herbs in the wound healing process.