Effectiveness of green tea cream in comparison with silver sulfadiazine cream in the treatment of second degree burn in human subjects

Abstract

BackgroundThe objective of the present clinical study was to compare the efficacy of green tea (GT) extract cream with 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream in the treatment of superficial second degree burns in human subjects. MethodsTwo-step hot water procedure was used for extraction. The antibacterial potency of the GT extract was compared with standard antibiotics against three common burn wounds bacteria. In addition, GT cream was subjected to a preservative challenge test. Using the 13 scoring items proposed by the Bates-Jensen wound assessment tool, the effectiveness of the cream was compared with SSD cream on 50 patients with second degree burns with a 14-day follow up. ResultsGT extract showed a wide range of in vitro antibacterial activity which was comparable with imipenem, gentamicin and more potent than vancomycin. In addition, it successfully passed the challenge test. Both treatment groups showed no significant differences, either in the rate of healing, or in other allocated healing parameters. However, epithelialisation, granulation tissue, oedema and exudate types showed a non-significant better profile of healing. In conclusion, these results suggest that GT extract is a promising novel agent in the treatment of 2nd degree superficial burns in human subjects. Further studies on its effectiveness in the treatment of deep second degree burn wounds are recommended.