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Effect of Zicao ointment on second-degree burns in rats


Hong-bin Luo
Yi Cao
Mao-can Tao
Xiao-hong Yang
You-li Wang

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the healing effect of Zicao Ointment (ZCO) on second-degree burns in rats.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 200 – 220 g, were subjected to deep seconddegree skin burns by electrical scald instrument. The animals were divided into three groups as follows: (1) second-degree burns (control) group, (2) burns treated with 1 % silver sulfadiazine (SSD) group, and (3) second-degree burns treated with ZCO group. On days 3, 7 and 14 following administration of the
drug or ZCO, wound area and histopathological changes of rat epidermis were evaluated for the various groups.

Results: On day 14, mean wound area of ZCO treatment group (0.28 ± 0.04 cm2) was significantly smaller than that of the control rats (2.63 ± 0.19 cm2, p < 0.01). Histological results indicate that inflammatory cells disappeared and were replaced by new granulation tissue by day 14 in the group treated with ZCO. Compared with SSD group rats, the inflammatory cells decreased and fibroblast and granulation tissues increased significantly in burnt rats treated with ZCO.

Conclusion: Zicao Ointment is effective for the treatment of second-degree burns in rats and may be suitable for clinical therapy of second-degree burns.

Keywords: Zicao ointment, Second-degree burns, Healing, Rat epidermis, Silver sulfadiazine


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eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996