Wound healing properties of quince seed mucilage: in vivo evaluation in rabbit full-thickness wound model.

OBJECTIVE

Quince seed mucilage (QSM) has been used in Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of skin wounds and burns. Recent studies indicated that QSM accelerated wound healing. The present study was undertaken to investigate the healing efficiency of QSM formulated as 5%, 10%, and 20% creams in eucerin base with especial attention on growth factors involving in wound healing.

METHODS

Full thickness wounds were created in Iranian male rabbits divided into five experimental groups (n = 6), as negative control, eucerin and treatments. Negative control group did not receive any treatment. Eucerin group received topical eucerin, twice a day. Treatment groups were treated topically by creams of QSM 5%, 10% and 20% (w/w) in eucerin base, twice daily. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated based on wound contraction, haydroxyproline content, tensile strength of wound tissue. The levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) were also determined in serum and wound fluid of tested animals.

RESULTS

Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in wound contraction between QSM 10 and 20% creams treatments groups and control groups (P < 0.05) in most of the days. Rabbits treated with QSM 20% cream had the best results (completed healing in 13 days, higher hydroxyproline content, higher tissue resistance and higher wound fluid levels of evaluated growth factors).

CONCLUSION

We concluded tha QSM in 10-20% concentrations have a good potential for promote wound healing thus supports its traditional use.