Comparing Effects of Arnebia euchroma and Alpha Ointment on Wound Healing Process

Abstract

Background: Wound healing is a dynamic process with inflammatory response and oxidative reaction in the damaged area. Alpha ointment (AO) and Arnebia euchroma (Arnebia) are herbal medicines with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that can be used as wound healing agents. AO is a commonly used ointment while Arnebia is a newly introduced one. Objectives: We aimed to compare the effects of Arnebia with those of AO on the skin wound healing process in rats by using stereological methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups of 12. One group was treated with AO (E1), one was treated with Arnebia gel with a concentration of 10% of herbal extract (E2), the first control group (C1) received no treatment, and the other group (C2) was treated with the vehicle gel. Treatments were performed every 24 hours for 14 days. The volume densities of the collagen bundles and vessels, vessel’s length density and diameter, and fibroblast populations were estimated by using stereological methods. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Results: According to our results, the average of reduction in wound areas, volume density of collagen bundles, fibroblast populations, and length density of vessels in E1 and E2 groups were significantly higher than C1 and C2 groups. The differences between E1 and E2 were not statistically significant regarding the stereological parameters. Conclusions: According to our results, Arnebia and AO showed similar efficacies in improving the wound healing process and tissue regeneration.