Homeopathy 2012; 101(03): 147-153
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2012.05.006
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2012

Effects of microcurrent application alone or in combination with topical Hypericum perforatum L. and Arnica montana L. on surgically induced wound healing in Wistar rats

Fabiene C.B. Castro
1   Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Amanda Magre
1   Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Ricardo Cherpinski
1   Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Paulo M. Zelante
1   Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Lia M.G. Neves
2   Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Marcelo A.M. Esquisatto
2   Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Fernanda A.S. Mendonça
2   Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
,
Gláucia M.T. Santos
2   Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Herminio Ometto University Center, Araras, SP, Brazil
› Institutsangaben

Verantwortlicher Herausgeber dieser Rubrik:
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received24. Februar 2012
revised16. Mai 2012

accepted22. Mai 2012

Publikationsdatum:
29. Dezember 2017 (online)

Objectives: This study evaluated the wound healing activity of microcurrent application alone or in combination with topical Hypericum perforatum L. and Arnica montana L. on skin surgical incision surgically induced on the back of Wistar rats.

Design: The animals were randomly divided into six groups: (1) no intervention (control group); (2) microcurrent application (10μA/2 min); (3) topical application of gel containing H. perforatum; (4) topical application of H. perforatum gel and microcurrent (10μA/2 min); (5) topical application of gel containing A. montana; (6) topical application of A. montana gel and microcurrent (10μA/2 min). Tissue samples were obtained on the 2nd, 6th and 10th days after injury and submitted to structural and morphometric analysis.

Results and conclusion: Differences in wound healing were observed between treatments when compared to the control group. Microcurrent application alone or combined with H. perforatum gel or A. montana gel exerted significant effects on wound healing in this experimental model in all of the study parameters (P < 0.05) when compared to the control group with positive effects seen regarding newly formed tissue, number of newly formed blood vessels and percentage of mature collagen fibers. The morphometric data confirmed the structural findings. In conclusion, application of H. perforatum or A. montana was effective on experimental wound healing when compared to control, but significant differences in the parameters studied were only observed when these treatments were combined with microcurrent application.

 
  • References

  • 1 Martin P. Wound healing-aiming for perfect skin regeneration. Science 1997; 27: 75-81.
  • 2 Kloth L.C. Electrical stimulation for wound healing: a review of evidence from in vitro studies, animal experiment, and clinical trials. Int J Low Extrem Wounds 2005; 4: 23-44.
  • 3 Mendonça F.A.S., Passarini Jr. J.R., Esquisatto M.A.M., Mendonça J.S., Franchini C.C., Santos G.M.T. Effects of the application of Aloe vera (L.) and microcurrent on the healing of wounds surgically induced in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Acta Cir Bras 2009; 24: 150-155.
  • 4 Gaspi F.O.G., Mary Ann Foglio M.A., Carvalho J.E. et al. Effects of the topical application of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Oncidium flexuosum sims. (Orchidaceae) and microcurrent on the healing of wounds surgically induced in Wistar rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011: 1-9.
  • 5 Migliato K.F., Chiosini M.A., Mendonça F.A.S., Esquisatto M.A.M., Salgado H.R.N., Santos G.M.T. Wound Healing Activity of a Glycolic Extract of Dillenia indica L. combined with Microcurrent Stimulation in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) . Wounds (King of Prussia, Pa.) 2011; 23: 111-120.
  • 6 Fleischi G., Lauchlin T. Electrical stimulation in wound healing. J Foot Ankle Surg 1977; 36: 457-461.
  • 7 Castilho E., Sumano H., Fortoul T.I., Zepeda A. The influence of pulsed electrical stimulation on the wound healing of burned rat skin. Arch Med Res 1995; 26: 185-189.
  • 8 Cruz N.I., Bayron F.E., Suarez A.J. Accelerated healing of full-thickness burns by the use of high-voltage pulsed galvanic stimulation in the pig. Ann Plast Surg 1989; 23: 49-55.
  • 9 Driban J.B., Swanik C.B., Huxel K.C., Balsubramanian E. Transient electric changes immediately after surgical trauma. J Athl Train 2007; 42: 524-529.
  • 10 Lee B.Y., Wedell K., Al-Waili N., Butler G. Ultra-low microcurrent therapy: a novel approach for treatment of chronic resistant wounds. Adv Ther 2007; 24: 1202-1209.
  • 11 Watson T. Electrotherapy and tissue repair. Sportex Med 2006; 29: 7-13.
  • 12 Lennox P.H., Henderson C.L. Herbal medicine use is frequent in ambulatory surgery patients in Vancouver Canada. Can J Anaesth 2003; 50: 21-25.
  • 13 Edmondson M., Newall N., Carville K., Smith J., Riley T.V., Carson C.F. Uncontrolled, open-label, pilot study of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil solution in the decolonisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus positive wounds and its influence on wound healing. Int Wound J 2011; 8: 375-384.
  • 14 Malik K.I., Malik M.N., Aslam A. Honey compared with silver sulphadiazine in the treatment of superficial partial-thickness burns. Int Wound J 2010; 7: 413-417.
  • 15 Norred C.L. Complementary and alternative medicine use by surgical patients. Aorn J 2002; 76: 1013-1021.
  • 16 Campos F.L., Benin L.A., Camargo V.M.F. Homeopathic approach profile of Veterinary Teaching Clinic (CEVET) at Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste (UNICENTRO), Paraná, Brazil. Ambiência 2010; 6: 289-296.
  • 17 Khuda-Bukhsh A.R. Towards understanding molecular mechanisms of action of homeopathic drugs: an overview. Mol Cell Biochem 2003; 253: 339-345.
  • 18 Ozturk N., Korkmaz S., Ozturk Y. Wound healing activity of St. John's work (Hypericum perforatum L.) on chicken embryonic fibroblasts. J Ethopharmacol 2007; 111: 33-39.
  • 19 Linde K., Berner M., Egger M., Mulrow C. St John's wort for depression. B J Psych 2005; 186: 99-107.
  • 20 Nathan P.J. Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort): a non-selective reuptake inhibitor? A review of the recent advances in its pharmacology. J Psychopharmacol 2001; 15: 47-54.
  • 21 Di Paola R., Mazzon E., Muia C. et al. Protective effect of Hypericum perforatum in zymosan-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: relationship to its inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production and its peroxynitrite scavenging activity. Nitric Oxide 2007; 16: 118-130.
  • 22 Paterniti I., Briguglio E., Mazzon E. et al. Effects of Hypericum perforatum in a rodent model of periodontitis. BMC Complemen Altern Med 2010; 73: 1-10.
  • 23 Mukherjee P.K., Verpoorte R., Suresh B. Evaluation of in-vivo wound healing activity of Hypericum patulum (Family: Hypericaceae) leaf extract on different wound model in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 70: 315-321.
  • 24 Samadi S., Khadivzadeh T., Emami A., Moosavi N.S., Tafaghodi M., Behnam H.R. The effect of Hypericum perforatum on the wound healing and scar of cesarean. J Altern Complement Med 2010; 16: 113-117.
  • 25 Klaas C.L., Wagner G., Laufer S. et al. Studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of phytopharmaceuticals prepared from Arnica flowers. Planta Med 2002; 68: 385-391.
  • 26 Kayne S.B. Homeopathic Pharmacy. 2th edn. Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill-Livingstone; 1997. 366 pp.
  • 27 Brougthon G., Crosby M.A., Coleman J., Robrich R.J. Use of herbal supplements and vitamins in plastic surgery: a practical review. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 119: 48-66.
  • 28 Cornu C., Joseph P., Gaillard S. et al. No effect of a homeopathic combination of Arnica montana and Bryonia alba on bleeding, inflammation, and ischaemia after aortic valve surgery. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2010; 69: 136-142.
  • 29 Leu S.J., Havey L.E., Martin W.N., Yoo S.S., Rademaker A.W., Alam M. Accelerated resolution of laser-induced bruising with topical 20% arnica: a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial. Brit J Dermatol 2010; 163: 557-563.
  • 30 Rodrígues Sánchez Eliecer S., del Risco Turiño Carlos A., Truit Bernal Nery B., Rodríguez Fernández María Teresa, Barreras López Olga Lidia. Claudication intermittent arterial occlusive progressive of the lower limbs (AOPMI). Results of homeopathic treatment (part 1). Homeopatia Méx 2006; 75: 62-67.
  • 31 Jeffrey S.L., Becker H.J. Use of Arnica to relieve pain after carpal-tunnel release surgery. Altern Ther Health Med 2002; 8: 66-68.
  • 32 Yui F., Linarelli M.C.B., Zelante P.M. Atividade antiinflamatória da Arnica montana . Rev Cienc Med 1998; 7: 21-26.
  • 33 International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals. CIOMS; 1985.
  • 34 National Institutes of Health. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. NIH Publication; 1996. pp. 82–123.
  • 35 Gill T.J., Smith G.J., Wissler R.W. The rats as an experimental animal. Science 1989; 245: 269-276.
  • 36 Rich L., Whittaker P. Collagen and picrosirius red staining: a polarized light assessment of fibrillar hue and spatial distribution. Braz J Morphol. Sci 2005; 22: 97-104.
  • 37 Miller R.G. Simultaneous Statistical Inference. 2 ed.. New York, NY: Springer Verlag; 1981.
  • 38 Watson T. Current concepts in electrotherapy. Haemophilia 2002; 8: 413-418.
  • 39 Cheng N., Hoof H.V., Bockx E. et al. The effects of electrical currents on ATP generation, protein synthesis, and membrane transport in rat skin. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1982; 171: 264-272.
  • 40 Bayat M., Asgari-Mohadam Z., Maroufe M., Rezaie F.S., Rakhnshan M. Experimental wound healing using microamperage electrical stimulation in rabbits. J Rehab Res Dev 2006; 43: 219-226.
  • 41 Santos V.N.S., Ferreira L.M., Horibe E.K., Duarte I.S. Electric microcurrent in the restoration of the skin undergone a trichloroacetic acid peeling in rats. Acta Cir Bras 2004; 19: 466-470.
  • 42 Lee B.Y., AL-Waili N., Stubbs D. et al. Ultra-low microcurrent in the management of Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic wounds: report of twelve cases and discussion of mechanism of action. Int J Med Sci 2012; 7: 29-35.
  • 43 McGinnis M.E., Vanable J.W. Voltage gradients in newt limb stumps. Prog Clin Biol Res. 1986; 210: 231-238.
  • 44 Houghton P.E., Kincaid C.B., Lovell M. et al. Effect of electrical stimulation on chronic leg ulcer size and appearance. Phys Ther 2003; 83: 17-28.
  • 45 Greeson J.M., Sanford B., Monti D.A. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): a review of the current pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical literature. J Psychopharmacol 2001; 153: 402-414.
  • 46 Reichling J., Weseler A., Saller R. A current review of the antimicrobial activity of Hypericum perforatum L. Pharmacopsychiary 2001; 34: 116-118.
  • 47 Lavie G., Mazur Y., Lavie D., Meruelo D. The chemical and biological properties of hypericin-A compound with a broad spectrum of biological activities. Med Tes Tev 1995; 15: 111-119.
  • 48 Knussel O., Weber M., Suter A. Arnica montana gel in osteoarthritis of the knee: an open multicenter clinical trial. Adv Ther 2002; 19: 209-218.
  • 49 Bergonzi M.C., Bilia A.R., Casiraghi A. et al. Evaluation of skin permeability of sesquiterpenes of an innovative supercritical carbon dioxide arnica extract by HPLC/DAD/MS. Pharmazie 2005; 60: 36-38.
  • 50 Alfredo P.P., Anaruma C.A., Pião A.C.S., João S.M.J., Casaroto R.A. Análise quantitativa dos efeitos da sonoforese com Arnica montana sobre o processo inflamatório agudo do músculo esquelético de ratos. Fitoter Pesq 2008; 15: 273-279.
  • 51 Seemann A., Wallner T., Poschlod P., Heilmann J. Variation of sesquiterpene lactone contents in different Arnica montana influence f ecological parameters. Planta Med 2010; 76: 837-842.
  • 52 Staneva J., Denkova P., Todorova M., Evstatieva L. Quantitative analysis os sesquiterpene lactones in extract of Arnica montana L. by 1HNMR spectroscopy. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011; 54: 94-99.