Background and Aim: One of the complications of the diabetes mellitus (DM) is diabetic ulcer. Diabetic ulcer is commonly infected by infectious agents, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of alcoholic extracts of Aloe vera, Apium graveolens, and Sauropus androgynus on promoting wound healing in a diabetic wound infected with MRSA.
Materials and Methods: A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats (six months old, weighing 250300 g) were injected with 65 mg/kg body weight (BW) of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes. On day seven, the backs of the rats were shaved, and two circular wounds (4 mm in diameter) were created on their back, which were infected with MRSA. The rats were divided into six-groups. Group I = control, Group II = treated with cream base without extract, Group III = treated with 2% A. vera cream, Group IV = treated with 2% A. graveolens cream, Group V = treated with 2% S. androgynus cream, and Group VI = treated with 2% A. vera + 2% A. graveolens + 2% S. androgynus cream. The wounds were treated twice a day for 14 days. The data were collected on days 7 and 14.
Results: The results showed that all three herbal extracts and their combination decreased wound area and percentage of wound, increased tensile strength of skin, collagen deposition, VEGF expression, and skin thickness, and depressed the CRP profile and cyclooxygenase-2 expression.
Conclusion: A. vera, A. graveolens, and S. androgynus creams can be used as herbal therapies against diabetic wounds infected with MRSA, both as a single or combination treatment.
Key words: Aloe vera, Apium graveolens, diabetes ulcer, MRSA, Sauropus androgynus
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