Wound Healing Studies Using Punica granatum Peel: An Animal Experimental Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract-based carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) gel of Punica granatum peel (PCMC) and CMC on healing of full-thickness skin wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two rats were studied. Each rat had 3 wounds that were treated topically with PCMC as the case, CMC as the positive control, and sterile saline as the negative control. All 3 wounds of each rat were photographed during the wound healing period at days 0 (onset of wound surgery), 3, 6, 9, and 12.The wound area was calculated using Adobe Photoshop CS (version 5) software (Adobe Systems Inc, San Jose, California). Electrocardiogram paper was used for reference scale. RESULTS: The results of this study show that macroscopic and microscopic wound healing took a significantly longer time in wounds treated with normal saline than those treated with PCMC (grossly) and CMC gel (grossly and significantly). CONCLUSIONS: The authors' findings show that anti-inflammatory, antihemorrhagic, and antinecrotic effects of CMC lead to early healing of skin wounds.