Turmeric extract gel and honey in post-cesarean section wound healing: A preliminary study

Abstract

Background: Delivery by cesarean section (SC) increases the risk of a surgical site infection (SSI). Therapy from health services and complementary therapy reduce the risk of infection and accelerate the wound-healing process. This study compared wound healing after SC with a turmeric extract gel and original Trigona honey. Methods: Female white rats (Rattus novergicus) with pre- and post-testing and a control group were included in this experiment, which was conducted in June-July 2022. The test animals were 56 female white rats, 2-4 months old, weighing 150–350 g. The treatment group was divided into three subgroups with application of 50% and 75% turmeric extract gel and Trigona honey. The turmeric was given twice daily, and the honey was divided into two applications of twice a day and once a day. Wounds were assessed using the Reeda Scale. Results: The fastest wound healing occurred in the group given Trigona honey twice daily. Redness, ecchymosis, and edema disappeared in this group on day 9 (score 0), and granulation tissue formed on day 9. The group that was administered 50% and 75% turmeric gel extract and Trigona honey once a day healed by days 12 and 15, respectively; all three of these interventions were better than the control group. Conclusions: Administering Trigona honey twice daily was more effective for accelerating wound healing than the 50% or 75% turmeric extract gel. Original Trigona honey has the potential to be a post-SC wound healing agent.