Evaluation of the healing effects of Onosma bolbutrichum root extract on second‎ degree ‎burn wound in rabbit

Objective: Burn injury is one of the main causes of death by injury worldwide and healing of burn is still a challenge in modern medicine. In present study we investigated the healing effects of n-hexane- dichloromethane (1:1) extract of Onosma bulbotrichum roots on second degree burn wound in rabbit .

Methods: 36 Iranian rabbits were used in this study. The rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups. After creating of standard second degree burn wound on the back of rabbits, different treatment modalities were investigated in six groups. Group 1 received no treatment, group 2 was treated with cold cream (vehicle), group3, 4 and 5 were treated with creams containing0.5%, 1% and 2% (W/W) of plant extract, respectively. The 6th group served as standard group and was treated with Silver Sulfadiazine. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound healing, and total collagen content of treated skin samples. Histopathological evaluation of wound samples was also performed.

Results: The cream containing 0.5% (W/W) of Onosma bulbotrichum root extract significantly (P<0.01) increased the rate of wound contraction and tissue collagen and non-collagenous proteins content when compared to vehicle and no- treatment groups. Additionally, histopathological evaluation confirmed these results.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that Onosma bulbotrichum root extract has the potential for treatment of burn wound and it can be used to treat different types of wounds in human beings also.