Effect of topical aloe vera on the process of healing of full-thickness skin burn: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

Background: Skin burn is common universal problem that may lead to ugly scarring, serious handicapping. Availability of natural biological treatment to improve its outcome becomes concern of many researchers. Aim of study: To explore the effect of aloe vera on the angiogenesis process during healing of a fullthickness experimental skin burn. Materials and methods: Seventy rats were divided into three groups; control group (A), group B and group C. Group B was exposed to full-thickness (FT) skin burn. Group C was exposed to FT skin burn with application of local aloe vera (AV) gel. Each of group B and C was divided into 3 subgroups from which skin specimens were taken at 4,8,12 days. Skin specimenswere prepared for histological and immunohistochemical study by hematoxlyin and eosin (H&E), Masson`s trichrome (MT) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). All data were measured morphometrically and statistically analyzed. Results: After 4 days from inducing FT burn, the initial necrosis and inflammation gradually replaced by increased granulation tissue (GT) on 8 th and 12 th day skin specimens. The collagen deposition of GT increased progressively to make a coarse dense bundles, meanwhile the newly formed capillaries (NFC) of GT were surrounded by pericytes that showed extensive expression of α-SMA early on 4 th and till 8 th day specimens and decreased on 12 th day specimens. AV-treated groups showed relative decrease of α-SMA detection especially in 8 th and 12 th day specimens together with a significant decrease in the inflammatory infiltrate in all phases as well as deposition of more mature and finer collagen fibers compared with burn per se specimens. Conclusion: In full-thickness skin burn, aloe vera shows a beneficial effect by reducing the inflammation significantly and providing a more mature granulation tissue which could accelerate healing and might produce a sound well-remodeled scar.

Comparison of the effectiveness of Aloe Vera Gel with 2% Nitrofurazone ointment on the healing of superficial second-degree burns. Randomised clinical trial

“…Wet dressings can double the speed of wound healing because the wet environment allows fibroblast cells to immigrate faster to the epidermis and accelerate the recovery process (33). Aloe Vera also has lysine; lysine helps with wound healing by removing toxic substances, increasing blood flow and removing dead cells (34). The results of this study are consistent with the conclusion of a review study that showed that Aloe Vera gel accelerates burns recovery in superficial grade one burns (35).…”

Medicinal Plants in Wound Healing

“…Aloe vera is a native plant in Africa and is so called lily of the desert or the plant of immortality. The Aloe vera extract has some beneficial properties which can decrease inflammation; enhance mature granulation tissue and resulting in help to accelerate wound healing [16]. It also decreases the blood glucose which can be beneficial in diabetic wounds [17].…”

“…Because Aloe vera extract contains tannic acid and a type of polysaccharide [19] that help wound healing process. Aloe vera extract shows beneficial effects on wound healing by decreasing the inflammatory phase and supplying more mature granulation tissue which finally promotes healing and may be caused to produce a sound well-remodeled scar [16]. The Aloe vera leaf gel has beneficial effects on wound healing by antioxidant properties which can be attributed to some compounds including indoles, and alkaloids [20].…”

Aloe Vera Gel as a Traditional and Complementary Method for Chronic Skin Burn: A Case Report

“…Regarding Aloe Vera healing effect on skin, it induces collagen cross linking and hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate production through stimulation of growth factor receptors of fibroblast cells [12] which will result in wound contraction as well as improving granulation tissue formation [1]. Moreover, corneal re-epithelialization was reported as a consequence of topical Aloe Vera Gel [14].…”

“…Disaster occurs when burn leaves disability on its path besides affecting patients' mental, psychological, and physiological conditions [1].…”