In the present study, the effect of topical application of Aloe vera, honey and combination of Aloe vera and honey (A+H) on cutaneous wound healing in goat model was investigated. A total of 20 goats were selected having body weight 8-12 kg, age 9-18 months and randomly divided into group A, H, A+H and C. Following local anaesthesia, a 1.5×1.5 cm² excised wound along with the latissimus dorsi muscle were made on the skin of these goats using a template. The wounds of Group A, H, A+H and C were treated topically with Aloe vera, honey and Aloe vera + honey and sterile normal saline respectively. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated in terms of bacterial load, tissue response in healing by histopathology and wound contraction rate. The bacterial load was measured by growing them on agar medium and means of colony forming unit (CFU). The wound area in each group was measured using a Vernier calliper scale which was used to trace the wound area. The bacterial load (CFU) appeared lower in every sampling in goats of Group H followed by those of Group A and A+H. Highest level of bacterial infectivity (1700-1980 cfu/100µl nutrient agar) in group C and lower count in Group H (250-362 /100 µl nutrient agar) was seen in the wound following day 3 of treatment. Biopsy examination of Group A skin revealed that the topical application of Aloe vera lowered tissue reaction following day 7 of wounding and enabling rapid repairing of tissue with complete epithelialization over the wound following 14 days of wounding. Clinically the wounds showed various degree of healing in group A, H, A+H goats following day 14 of wounding compared to the existence of raw and unhealed wound in Group C goats. Complete centripetal contraction of wound was obtained in group A, A+H, H at 17, 19, 21 days respectively. The results reveal that topical application of Aloe vera alone appeared best in the wound healing process followed by Aloe vera + honey and honey respectively.
Key words: Aloe vera,
Honey,
Wound healing, Goat,
Histopathology,
Colony forming unit
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