The bioactive compound of traditional herbal ointment accelerates wound closure, epithelialization, and angiogenesis...

This study endeavors to draw a comparative analysis between a traditional herbal ointment, specifically Swalin, and silver sulfadiazine ointment in the context of repairing deep second-degree burns.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. In this investigation, a cohort comprising eighty-two patients was stratified into two groups, namely Swalin (n = 41) and Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) (n = 41). Over 28 days, ointment applications were administered twice daily. The quantification of ointment compounds was conducted employing Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The study encompassed a comprehensive assessment involving clinical examination, quantitative and qualitative histopathological evaluations, pain level determination, and scrutiny of wound closure. Statistical analyses, encompassing chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, were performed using SPSS software.

Our investigation revealed that the predominant compounds in the ointment were linoleic acid (41.37 %) and elaidic acid (37.45 %). On the 28th day, the Swalin group demonstrated a significantly higher rate of wound closure (81.52 ± 7.76) compared to the SSD group (69.91 ± 2.48) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a statistically significant distinction was observed between the two groups concerning the degree of epithelialization (P = 0.048). Fibroblast density exhibited a notable discrepancy between the groups (P = 0.02). In terms of angiogenesis and collagen deposition, the Swalin group displayed a significant contrast with the SSD group (P = 0.008 and P = 0.007, respectively), while no statistical distinction was discerned in the number of immune cells (P > 0.05). Histological examination of SSD illustrated a pronounced infiltration of inflammatory cells in the dermis, predominantly lymphocytes. Conversely, the Swalin group exhibited well-formed dermal layers, minimal infiltration, and a profusion of vessels.

In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of Swalin ointment, attributed to its rich composition of fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, and the presence of vitamins C and E.