Effect of Hypericum perforatum on wound healing and comparison with collagenase drugs

ABSTRACT Aim: Wound healing is one of the most fundamental problems in health. Due to the mortality and morbidity caused by wounds, new agents are constantly being tested for treatment. With the detailed understanding of wound healing in the 21st century, various chemical, physical and biological agents are being tested on wound healing. One of the most frequently used of these agents is collagenase-containing drugs (pomade), and their wound healing effects have taken their place in the literature through studies. It is still actively used today. However, herbal medicines, which have not been sufficiently included in the literature since ancient times, have also been used effectively in wound healing. Confidence in phytotherapeutic drugs is increasing and gaining importance day by day. St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum) oil is one of these medicines. It is known that it has been used in many treatments such as wound healing and burns since ancient times. In our study, we aimed to examine the effect of St. John's wort (hypericum perforatum) oil on wound healing histopathologically and macroscopically in an experimental wound model created in rats and to compare it with ointment containing collagenase. Material and Method: A total of 40 adult Wistar male rats of the same age and weight were used for the experiment, with 8 animals in each group. After the backs of the rats were shaved and cleaned with povidone-iodine solution, a 1 cm2 full-thickness skin defect was created. The sham (control) group was dressed with dry gauze, and the wet dressing (SF) group was dressed with saline-soaked gauze. The collagenase ointment (KP) group and St. John's wort oil (SK) groups were dressed with gauze impregnated with 0. 1 grams of these substances. Dressings were applied twice a day, morning and evening, and continued until wound healing was completed. Wound area areas were measured on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st days and calculated using the Walker formula. In addition, punch biopsies were taken from the wound sites on the 14th day, and inflammation, vascular proliferation, fibrosis, epithelialization and granulation in the wound site were evaluated histopathologically. Findings: As a result of the evaluation; It was observed that the wounds of the groups treated with St. John's wort oil and collagenase ointment closed statistically earlier than the other groups and the wound healing times were shorter (p <0. 001). No statistical difference was detected between St. John's wort oil and collagenase ointment groups and between the control group and wet dressing groups. In addition, it was observed that St. John's wort oil provided more shrinkage in the wound on the 3rd, 10th and 14th days of wound healing than 4 collagenase ointment and other groups (p<0. 001). Statistical analysis of histopathological results showed that fibrosis was less in the control group (p<0. 05). No difference was detected between the groups in the statistical analysis of inflammation, vascular proliferation, epithelialization and granulation values. Results: As a result of the statistical analysis of the data obtained in our study, it was concluded that St. John's wort oil was macroscopically more effective in wound healing than collagenase ointments, but there was no difference histopathologically. Keywords: Wound healing, rat, St. John's wort oil, collagenase pomade, hypericum perforatum