Comparison of the effect of ointment containing Citrus aurantium extract with phenytoin ointment on wound healing

Abstract

Introduction: Increasing the speed of wound healing with the least scar tissue prevents
wound infection and restores the integrity and health of the skin to normal. In this regard,
medicinal plants with restorative effects have long been considered to prevent infection and
rapid healing of superficial wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the wound healing
after topical application of ointment containing Citrus aurantium extract (5%) in
comparison with phenytoin ointment in rats.
Materials & Methods: For this purpose, 32 adult rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,
including negative control group, positive control group (without treatment), Citrus
aurantium ointment treatment group (5%) and phenytoin ointment treatment group (1%). In
this experiment, the skin of the lumbar region of mice was cut into 1 cm2 after anesthesia.
Ointment containing Citrus aurantium extract and phenytoin ointment was applied topically
twice a day for 14 days. Tissue samples were taken at 4, 7, 10 and 14 days after incision and
microscopic images were obtained. Blood samples were taken from mice every 6 days to
check the growth factor.
Results: On microscopic examination on the fourth day, budding tissue including fibroblast
cell proliferation and developing blood vessels (angiogenesis) was observed in both
treatment groups. On the seventh day, the bud tissue was less formed in the treated groups
than in the control group. On the tenth day, the formation of epithelial tissue was observed
in the group treated with Citrus aurantium extract as opposed to the group treated with
phenytoin. On the fourteenth day, more collagen deposition and absence of inflammatory
cells were observed in the group treated with Citrus aurantium extract than in the group
treated with phenytoin. Growth factor levels were not significantly different in the study
groups. Examination of microscopic images and measurement of wound shrinkage revealed
that the group treated with spring orange extract had a higher percentage of improvement
than the group treated with phenytoin, which was statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results show that Citrus aurantium extract (5%) heals wounds faster than
phenytoin ointment.