Formulation and Evaluation of Marchantia paleacea Gel for Treating Second-Degree Burn Wounds in Rats

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Second-degree burns can cause significant tissue damage, pain and infection risk, necessitating prompt and effective treatment strategies. Natural therapeutic agents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are gaining attention for burn management. <i>Marchantia paleacea</i>, a liverwort species, is known for such properties. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate <i>M. paleacea</i> gel for its wound healing potential in second-degree burns. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A gel was prepared using ethanol extracts of <i>M. paleacea</i> at concentrations of 5, 10 and 15%, with Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) as the base. The formulations were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, homogeneity, stability and skin irritation. A 14-day <i>in vivo</i> study was conducted on rats with second-degree burn wounds to assess healing. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and <i>post hoc</i> comparisons, with significance level set at p<0.05. <b>Results:</b> All gel formulations showed good physical stability, pH values between 5.04 and 5.30, viscosity ranging from 2459.7 to 2991.5 cps and no irritation in volunteers. The 15% <i>M. paleacea</i> gel demonstrated the most significant wound healing effect, reducing wound size to 0.12 cm², increasing epithelial thickness to 387.67 μm and enhancing collagen deposition to 18.60 on day 14 (p<0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Marchantia paleacea</i> gel, particularly at 15% concentration, exhibited significant burn healing effects, likely due to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This formulation holds promise as a natural topical agent for second-degree burn treatment. Further clinical studies are recommended to validate its efficacy.