The enhanced epithelialization potential of the aqueous extract of Prunella vulgaris in thermally injured rats

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the wound-healing efficiency of the Prunella vulgaris extract (PVE) on thermally injured rats. Sixty adult, female rats were divided into four groups, with group I serving as a sham control (without a burn injury). A burn was inflicted on the dorsum of all the rats in the second, third and fourth groups. Group II rats served as the burn-injury control group without any treatment. The burn-injured areas of the rats in the third and fourth groups were treated topically by 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream or 10% PVE-based cream, respectively. Biochemical (antioxidant, lipid peroxidation, hydroxyproline, mucopolysaccharide), morphological and histopathological evaluations showed the burn-healing efficiency of PVE to be better than that of the SSD group. In conclusion, topical application of PVE enhanced collagen synthesis and antioxidant levels by suppressing lipid peroxidation as well as increasing proliferation of keratinocytes, and thus positively influenced wound-healing.