Effects of topical Turkish propolis on burn wound healing in an experimental burn model

Burns are a leading cause of accident-related mortality, following motor vehicle accidents and drowning. Burn wound healing is influenced by several factors, including the degree, depth, and cause of the burn. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the effects of 1% silver sulfadiazine, 0.2% nitrofurazone, propolis vehicle, 10% water-soluble propolis, and 15% water-soluble propolis on partial-thickness burn wound healing using histopathological assessment.

In this randomized controlled experimental study, rats were randomly assigned to six groups: control, silver sulfadiazine, nitrofurazone, propolis vehicle, 10% water-soluble propolis, and 15% water-soluble propolis. The animals were anesthetized before burn induction. Four contact burns were created on each rat, and wound areas were measured and recorded. Tissue samples were collected from the wound sites for histopathological examination.

Rats treated with 15% water-soluble propolis had significantly smaller wound areas on days 7 (p=0.019 and p=0.047), 14 (p=0.01 and p=0.033), and 21 (p=0.00 and p=0.040) compared with the control and propolis vehicle groups, respectively. Histopathological evaluation on day 14 revealed differences favoring the propolis-treated groups in terms of fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposition, fibrosis, and mononuclear cell infiltration (p=0.017).

The application of water-soluble propolis to burn wounds in rats appears to promote wound healing.