The Effect of Mentha Pulegium on Healing of Burn Wound Injuries in Rat

BACKGROUND: Burn is one of the most common injuries and the 4th common cause of trauma globally. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the Mentha pulegium extract on second degree burn injuries in rats assessing histopathologic and macroscopic. METHODS: M. Pulegium extract dressings was used as a treatment to deep dermal contact burns in rats, compared with two control groups of vaseline dressing and simple dressing by normal saline. After creating second-degree burn on the dorsum of rats, the treatments were applied for 15 min in three groups. Wound dressings were performed on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21(st) and at the same time macroscopic assessment was performed using a digital camera and software processing of photos. Pathologic evaluation of skin specimens was undertaken on days 1, 3,7, 14 and 21(st). Wound healing parameters such as epithelialization, angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, inflammatory cells were compared between these 3 groups. RESULTS: Application of M. Pulegium extract on second degree burn wounds significantly decreased burn surface area and increased fibroblasts in comparison to simple dressing. There was not any statistically significant relationship between M. Pulegium extract treated group and vaseline treated or simple dressing groups on other wound healing parameters. CONCLUSION: This study delineated that M. Pulegium extract had a positive effect on healing process of second degree burns.