Effects of Matricaria aurea extract in excisional wound healing on albino rats

Abstract

The Asteraceae herbal plant Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch.Bip is well known for its use in treating gastrointestinal, cardiac, pulmonary, rheumatologic and many other ailments; nevertheless, wound care has not yet received scientific validation. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of M. aurea topical formulation on the rate of wound healing and contraction and the histopathological properties of the healing tissue in a rat model of an excisional wound. A total of 45 male rats with excisional wounds were enrolled in the study. The rats were divided into three groups, each with 15 male rats weighing approximately 200–250 g. The first group received treatment with M. aurea, the second group received fusidic acid cream and the third group received normal saline. The treatment was administered for 15 days while photographs were taken every other day, the diameters were measured and a histopathologic examination was conducted. There was a significant accelerated effect for wound healing, as evidenced by the inflammatory cells and diameters reducing to almost the same degree in the M. aurea and fusidic acid groups as compared to the control group (p<0.05). In vivo, the healing of wounds in albino Wister rats is demonstrated by the ethanolic extract of M. aurea. The findings, which show enhanced contraction, epithelization and tensile strength, significantly imply that wound healing promotion and acceleration can be achieved based on faster healing as compared to negative control and similar to standard control (fusidic acid) wounds.