Effects of aloe vera and nigella sativa on burn healing

Thirty-six rats were used in this study to determine the effects of Aloe vera (AV) and Nigella sativa (NS) on burn healing in experimental skin burns in rats. The rats were divided into tree main groups: control (C), AV and NS groups, with twelve rats in each group. Each main group was divided into two subgroups of six each for seven and fourteen day postoperative follow up. A full thickness 2nd degree thermal skin burn with a diameter of 1.5 centimeters was created on the dorsal thoracic region of the rats. Cold cream (control) was applied to twelve burns, AV was applied to twelve burns, and NS was applied topically to the remaining twelve burns twice a day, covering thirtysix burn areas in a thin layer. Burn and epithelialization areas were measured immediately after the burn was created, on days four, seven, ten and fourteenth. Six rats from each of the three groups were euthanized on the seventh (7th) and fourteenth (14th) days old after the operation. Blood and skin tissues were taken for biochemical examinations, and skin samples were taken for histopathological examinations. In macroscopic examinations, it was observed that the recovery in the AV group was better than the other groups on the fourth, seventh and on the tenth days, and the recovery in the AV and NS groups was better than the control group on the fourteenth days. In the study, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (KAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined. Statistically significant changes were observed in antioxidant parameters other than SOD in the blood tissue in the NS and AV applied groups compared to the control group on the 7th and 14th days (p<0.05 and p<0.001). In the skin tissue, statistically significant changes were observed in all parameters determined in the NS and AV applied groups on the 7th and 14th days compared to the control group (p<0.001). In histopathological examinations, a statistically significant difference was detected between the groups in terms of necrosis, Mn cell infiltration, edema, epithelialization formation and granulation tissue on the 7th and 14th days. While severe necrosis was observed on the 7th day in the control group, severe mononuclear cell infiltration was detected on the 7th and 14th days. Edema was detected as severe in the AV and NS groups on the 7th day. While epithelialization was not yet fully formed in the control group rats, it was at a moderate level on the 7th day in the NS group and at an advanced level in the AV group. On the 14th day, epithelialization was fully formed in the AV and NS groups. Granulation tissue formation was determined to be advanced in the AV group. Clinical, biochemical and histological findings have shown that AV has more antioxidant properties than NS and that AV increases the healing of skin burns with its positive effects on preventing necrosis and epithelialization. In conclusion, the findings obtained in this study show that AV and NS can be safely applied in the treatment of thermal skin burns. Keywords: Aloe vera, Nigella sativa, burn, rat