Background: :
The medicinal plant Myrtus communis L. (Myrtle) has been medicinal properties including antiinflammatory and wound healing in Persian Medicine.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to explore the wound healing potential of the local application of a gel containing
aqueous extract of the plant berry in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.
Methods:
Seven days after diabetes establishment, full-thickness excision skin wounds were made in normal and diabetic
rats and treated groups received topical application of a gel containing 6% aqueous extract of myrtle berries for 3 weeks.
The rate of wound healing and the level of epidermal and dermal maturation in the wound tissue were determined.
Results:
The results showed that after 3 and 7 days of wound injury, the gel significantly improved wound healing by accelerating epidermal and dermal maturation in diabetic rats with no significant effect in control group. However, the wounds
of all groups almost completely healed after 3 weeks.
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that aqueous extract of myrtle possesses a definite wound healing potential in diabetic condition. Our present findings may suggest the use of topical myrtle berries aqueous extract gel 6% to treat and manage
intractable diabetic wounds.
Background: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes. The synthetic drugs available in the market have side effects and limitations for diabetic patients, the vast majority of whom are in the upper age group. In this regard, based on Persian medicinal sources, Nigella Sativa (N. sativa) has proved to have beneficial effects on nerve-originated pain and neurological disorders. In this study, the effect of N. sativa is investigated topically in patients with diabetic neuropathy, and the results are compared with gabapentin capsules.Method: This study was performed as a double-blind clinical trial on 120 neuropathic patients. The patients were divided into three groups. The first group received a topical N. sativa product as an ointment, the second group was given a topical placebo and the third received 300 mg gabapentin capsules. The blindness was done in first and second groups. The patients were evaluated for eight weeks using the Michigan Response Questionnaire.Results: The data were elicited from the patients' answers to a number of questions in the Michigan questionnaire. There were statistically significant differences between the group that received the topical N. sativa product and the other two groups in terms of legs and feet numbness (p-value = 0.00), burning pain in feet or legs (p-value = 0.00), muscle cramps in feet or legs (p-value = 0.00), prickling fleeing in feet or legs (p-value = 0.00), hurting of the skin when the bed covers touch it (p-value = .005), aggravated symptoms at night (p-value = 0.00) and hurting feelings in the legs when walking (p-value = .0327). However, the three studied groups were not statistically different in distinguishing hot water from cold water.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the topical use of N. sativa, compared to the current drugs, has acceptable improving effects on diabetic neuropathic patients.
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