Abstract
This research aim to study efficacy of Achillea species methanolic extract alone and mixed with honey on enhancing wound healing in full thickness wound rats model. Histological and immune-histochemical studies used for evaluation skin tissue. Thirty adult male rats were used. Animals were divided into 6 groups, G1 (Control) unwounded painted with saline. G2 (Untreated+Wound(W)) full thickness wounded rats without any treatment. G3 (W+Mebo) painted with mebo cream. G4 (W+Achillea) full thickness wound treated by Achillea extract gel. G5 (W-Honey) wound treated with honey (1g/day). G6 (W-FMix) wound treated with honey and Achillea. Wound daily covered by previous medications and observed for healing or complications. Serum levels of inflammatory markers as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor -alpha; antioxidants as glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase,and lipid peroxide were determined. Skin wound edge area was dissected at 21 days, staining by hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, alpha-smooth actin (alpha-SA),and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoexpression. Epithelial thickness, area density of alpha-SA, and VEGF was recorded. Achillea extracts or mixed with honey enhance wound healing by decreased inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, enhancing epithelization, neo-angiogenesis,and collagen maturation. Form this research can be concluded that application of Achillea extracts or mixed with honey for large full thickness wounds enhanced wound healing.