Pfaffia Glomerata IN THE HEALING PROCESS OF SKIN WOUNDS

Background - When tissue loss occurs in the skin comes the need for reconstruction and many devices and medication are proposed to increase the healing process. The use of herbal medicine, such as Pfaffia glomerata, aims to play an active role in the scar formation. Aim - To evaluate the results of the use of Pfaffia glomerata on healing process of surgical wounds in rats. Methods - A total of 40 rats, which were held surgical wounds with a punch of 3 mm in diameter at the upper right back where no substance was applied and another in the lower region, where the herbal extract was used. They were divided into four subgroups of 48 hours, one, two and three weeks in relation to sacrifice. Measures were taken on the circumference to analyze the macroscopic contraction of the wound. Microscopic data were analyzed using the hematoxylin-eosin staining to verify the inflammatory process; immunohistochemistry, factor VIII, to observe the vascular density, and Masson trichrome to study fibrosis. Results - Macroscopic plant group achieved better results than the control group. The analysis of factor VIII showed statistical significance in a week of herbal medicine. In fibrosis, it was found that during the 48 hours the control group showed 70% of cases with minimal fibrosis, whereas the plant, 90%. In one week, the control group showed 10% of cases with no fibrosis, 60% with minimal fibrosis and 30% with moderate fibrosis, while the group plant showed 70% of cases with minimal fibrosis and 30% with moderate fibrosis. In the period of two weeks, the control group maintained 60% of cases with minimal fibrosis and increased to 40% of those with moderate fibrosis, while the plant maintained its group average presented in the previous group. In three weeks both groups, control and plan, kept the percentages presented in the previous period. Conclusion - In relation to wound contraction, plant group showed better results than the control group. In regard to histological analysis, HE staining showed a greater presence of inflammation in the animals of control groups. The immunohistochemical technique showed a vascular density, higher in the plant during the period of one week and Masson's trichrome staining showed no significant changes