Effect of Spatholobus suberectus (Fabaceae) extract on second-degree burns in rats

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the wound-healing effect of Spatholobus suberectus (Fabaceae) on seconddegree burns in a rat model.Methods: The animals were divided into normal, negative control, as well as 10 % Spatholobus suberectus (SS) (SS10), 20 % SS (SS20) and standard (STD) groups. Second-degree burns were inflicted by exposing a 3 × 3 cm sterile area of skin to boiling water for 10 min. The animals were treated topically twice daily for 2 weeks. Wound contraction (%) was measured after 2 weeks, while wound tissue  histopathology was assessed by hematoxylin & eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining. In addition, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde kit) and cytokine secretion (ELISA) were measured in liver and plasma, respectively.Results: The results of this study suggest that topical application of SS for 2 weeks significantly increases wound closure compared with the negative control. Moreover, treatment with SS significantly improved the pathological status of the wound throughout the protocol. There was also a significant decrease in malondialdehyde activity and increase in cytokine release in SS-treated rats compared with control rats.Conclusions: The results show that topical application of SS after inflicting second-degree burns in rats results in increased wound healing and decreased cytokine release and oxidative stress.Keyword: Spatholobus suberectus, Burns, Wound, Lipid peroxidation, Cytokines