Comparison of healing effects of aloe vera gel and aloe vera leaf pulp extract on burn-wound rats

Abstract

Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, and anti-microbial properties. It has been demonstrated that Aloe Vera use could accelerate healing of burn injuries in rats. The current study evaluates the effects of Aloe Vera gel and Aloe Vera leaf pulp extract (LPE) alone and together with silver sulfadiazine on third degree burn wound injuries in rats. In an experimental study, 70 male Wistar rats weighing 200–250 g were divided into 7 groups to receive topical placebo, silver sulfadiazine, Aloe Vera gel, Aloe Vera LPE and their combination. Treatment results were evaluated according to wound healing on days 3, 10, and 21 and according to pathologic findings on day 21. Wound size differed significantly between groups on day 3 (p= 0.001), day 10 (p= 0.001), and day 21 (p= 0.001). The study's findings indicate that Aloe Vera gel alone, compared to LPE, and the combination of Aloe Vera gel or LPE with silver sulfadiazine had a more significant reduction in wound size. The combined treatment of Aloe Vera LPE and silver sulfadiazine has shown several advantages, including enhanced epithelialization and reduced cell infiltration, granulation tissue formation, and vascularization in the treatment of burns. However, additional research is necessary to determine the most effective treatment for third-degree burns.