Wound Healing Effects of New Cream Formulations

Some of the many potentially beneficial ingredients that are traditionally used in wound healing, are obtained from some plants but their effectiveness has not been scientifically evaluated yet (1,2). In this study, new cream formulations (Levant storax and Complex creams) with the same cream base were developed. The composition of the cream base was as follows; (1) Butyrospermum parkii Kotschy (2) squalane, (3) cetearyl olivate and sorbitan olivate, (4) cetyl stearyl alcohol, (5) caprylic/capric triglyceride, (6) petrolatum, (7) glycerine, (8) tetrasodium EDTA, (9) methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben and (10) deionized water. In addition to the ingredients used in the cream base, Levant storax cream also contained balsam of oriental sweet gum, while complex cream contained (1) calendula oil, (2) St. John's wort extract, (3) escin (4) freeze dried powder of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. leaf juice and (5) allantoin. The aim of the study is to comparatively assess the wound healing potential of the two formulations against a reference cream, Madecassol® and the cream base by using in-vivo excisional wound model on rats. All wounds were photographed in the presence of a standard ruler by DLite Analog Microscope on the first and last day (tenth day) of the study. The wound areas were computed by using the Image J software and the wound contraction rates were calculated as a percentage of the reduction in wounded area and analyzed for statistical significance. According to the results, Levant storax cream was the best formula with the highest contraction rates, the Complex cream was as effective as the reference cream and better than the cream base.

Keywords: Wound, Excision, Liquidambar orientalis, Wound healing

References: 1. Bruneton J (1999) Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. 2nd edition, Lavoisier Tec&Doc, Paris, 520

2. Hafizoglu H, Reunanen M, Istek A (1996) Holzforschung 50: 116–117