EFFECTS OF FOLK MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACT ANKAFERD BLOOD STOPPER ON BURN WOUND HEALING

Objective: Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS), a mixture of five medicinal plant extracts, has been used historically as a haemostatic agent. The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of ABS on burn healing using a rat burning model. Materials and methods: A total of 24 male Wistar rats were used in this study. Burns were induced in wistar albino rats divided into two groups as following; Group-I was treated with ABS pad. Group-II (negative control) received no treatment (dressing with salin). Prior to burn injury, the animals were anesthesized. Dorsum of each rat was shaved with an electrical clipper and then the area was burned in order to obtain 20 mm in diameter of second degree burn injury. The method depended on contact burn injury using a metal brass heated in boiling water. Three animals of each group were sacrificed on the 3 rd postburn day, and nine animals of each group were sacrified on the 14 th postburn day and samples were collected. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated based on the wound diameter, inflammation, granulation, and fibrosis. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of wound diameter, inflammation, granulation and fibrosis on the third day. Significant differences were found in both groups in terms of wound diameter, wound contraction, inflammation, and fibrosis on the 14 th day. Wound diameter and inflammation were found to be significantly decreased and fibrozis was found to be significantly increased in ABS group. Granulation was found to be no significantly increased in the ABS group than in control one. Conclusion: It may be concluded that ABS is effective in the treatment of burn wound healing. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary to value the benefits and possible adverse effects of the application of this product on burn wound.