Studies of efficacy of Achillea species ethanol extract and honey on full thickness wound healing in diabetic albino rats

Wound healing is deemed a clinical issue in diabetic patients. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of Achillea species ethanolic extract and honey on wound healing enhancement in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Thirty adult male Albino rats (180-230 gm) were used for creating full thickness skin wounds. Animals were grouped to control (GI) and diabetics (GII-GVI). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (45 mg/kg) and all animals received metformin (50 mg/kg orally for 14 days to control hyperglycemia). Full thickness wound (2X2 cm) was created on the back skin of all animals. Wounded diabetic animals were divided into 5 subgroups based on wound treatment into diabetic wounded untreated (GII), mebo cream (G(sic)), Achillea extract preparation (GIV), honey (GV), Achillea + honey (GVI). One ml of each treatment was used for daily wound painting by fine brush for 14 days. Wounds were observed daily for healing criteria or complications and photographed with a well-known scale to measure contraction rate. Smears were taken from wounds for microbiological study. Wounded area was dissected at 14 days, processed for paraffin sectioning and staining by hematoxylin and eosin, alpha-smooth actin (alpha-SA) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Achillea extract, Achillea + honey, honey and mebo enhanced wound healing in diabetic rats. Most treatments modified microbial contents, blood profile and histological healing process. Achillea extracts, Achillea + honey and honey showed marked influence in enhancing wound healing in diabetic rats even better than mebo. So, it is recommended to use Achillea alone or mixed with honey for enhancing large a wound defects in diabetic patients.