Evaluation of Healing Effects of Poultice Containing 0.5% Fulvic Acid on Male White-Male Rats with Skin Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Chronic and acute skin wounds are an important health concern because they are very frequent during human life and affect millions of people worldwide. Shortening the wound healing process reduces treatment costs and hospitalization. Therefore, researchers have been looking for new treatment approaches to shorten the wound healing process. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the wound healing properties of poultice containing 0.5% fulvic acid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, a full-thickness skin wound was created on the dorsal side of 24 male rats. The animals were then randomly assigned to control, sham, and experiment groups. The skin defects were daily bandaged by using sterile gauze dipped in normal saline, carboxymethylcellulose, and 0.5% fulvic acid for 21 days, respectively. The wound healing rate was evaluated grossly and histologically at various time intervals post injury. Both descriptive and statistical analysis methods were applied (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The wound healing percentage was significantly higher in the poultice treatment group at all time intervals (P < 0.001). The wound was completely closed in this group compared with other groups at the end of week 4 post treatment. The mean numbers of inflammatory cells were statistically lower, and fibroblasts and vessels were higher in the poultice group than in the other groups at various time intervals post injury (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fulvic acid (0.5%) could be used as an effective therapeutic approach to improve the wound healing process because of its unique anti-inflammatory and neovascularization properties at the skin wound site.