Symphytum Officinale in the Treatment of Plantar Keratosis In Diabetic Patients: Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the efcacy between SO and salicylic acid SA in the treatment of plantar keratosis of diabetic patients. METHODS: Randomized, double-blind clinical trial, with 47 type 2 diabetic patients, both sexes and with plantar keratosis. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: G1 (n = 48; treated with 15% SO extract) and G2 (n = 46; treated with 10% AS). The feet were photographed before (D0) and after the treatment (D30) and keratosis areas were measured using the Image J software. For each patient, a lesion in each foot was analyzed. The results were expressed by median. In the statistical analysis, the Wilcoxin test was used to compare the lesion areas before and after treatments and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the regression of the lesion areas between the two groups. P <0.05 was adopted. RESULTS: G1 (D0 = 2 8.156 vs D30 = 2.226; p <0.0001) and G2 (D0 = 4.835 vs D30 = 2.059; p <0.0001) showed a difference between the areas (cm ) of the keratosis, 2 before and after the treatment. There was a difference in the regression of the areas (cm ) of keratosis, between G1 and G2, respectively (4.540 vs 1.171, p <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Symphytum ofcinale proved to be more effective than Salicylic Acid in the treatment of plantar keratosis in diabetic patients.