Investigation of eucalyptus essence 1% and its mixture with licorice gel 10% on the infected third-degree burn wound in rat model

Abstract

Many people have irreversible defects and to be death due to burn wounds every year. The current study was conducted to assess the effects of eucalyptus essence (EE) and its mixture with licorice in burn wound healing in rats. One hundred fifty rats were divided to five equal groups. Twenty-four hours after induction of third-degree burn wound, inoculation of 108 colony-forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA 103) into the burnt area was performed in form of subcutaneous. Group 1 was given no treatment, and group 2 received gel base. Group 3 (positive control) was treated with silver sulfadiazine (SSD). Groups 4 and 5 used EE 1% and its mixture with licorice gel 10%, respectively. After 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, the animals were euthanized and the wound healing parameters were evaluated through macroscopic and microscopic examinations. Microscopically, the rats treated with EE and mixture gel showed better wound healing than SSD (P < 0.05). This was demonstrated by the increase in re-epithelialization rate and neovascularization moreover as expected and also macroscopic observation was completed on day 21. No infection was found in treatment groups. Finally, skin strength in EE group was better than other groups (P < 0.05). Enhanced wound contraction, histological features, and reduced reepithelialization time suggest that 1% EE may have therapeutic benefits in burn wound healing.