# Healing Effects of Luteolin Versus Silver Sulphadiazine on Second-Degree Burn Wounds in Animal Model

## TL;DR

This study shows that luteolin ointments heal second-degree burns in rats better than the standard treatment, silver sulphadiazine.

## Contribution

Demonstrates luteolin's superior wound-healing effects compared to silver sulphadiazine in a rat burn model.

## Key findings

- Luteolin ointments showed higher wound closure rates than silver sulphadiazine and eucerin.
- Luteolin improved collagen formation and re-epithelialization in a dose-dependent manner.
- Histopathological results confirmed better tissue healing with luteolin treatments.

## Abstract

Background: Burn wounds are one of the most important injuries with significant
mortality and morbidity. Although some treatments like silver sulphadiazine
(SSD) ointment were introduced, the more effective as well as lower
complications agents are under investigation. Current evidence shows that
luteolin, as a flavonoid component of some fruits and vegetables, has potent
anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Hence this study aimed to
investigate the healing effects of luteolin ointments on second-degree burn
wounds in rat models and compared it with SSD. Materials and Methods: Thirty
male rats were randomly divided into five equal groups. A 2×2 cm2 circled
second-degree wound was induced on the dorsal surface of the rat neck. In the
control group, rats received no any treatments while in the vehicle group rats
received ointment base, i.e., eucerin. Rats in positive control and experimental
groups were treated with SSD and luteolin ointments (i.e., contained 2 and 5
percent of luteolin), respectively. The treatments of rats were performed daily
for 17 days and wound closer rate (WCR) was measured. Also, histopathological
examinations graded the severity of tissue damages using the determination of
collagen formation, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis rate, and
polymorphological leukocyte density. Results: On the 17th day, WCR in control
and vehicle groups was markedly lower than in both treatment and experimental
groups (P0.005). Also, WCRs in the L2% and L5% groups were higher than the SSD
group. Histopathological studies indicated more significant wound healing
effects of L2% and L5% ointments versus SSD and eucerin treatments in terms of
tissue-enhanced damage severity in a dose-dependent manner. Also, collagen
formation and re-epithelialization were markedly more observed in the rats,
which received luteolin ointments than in other groups. Conclusion: Our study
revealed that based on WCR and histopathological examination findings, luteolin
ointments could significantly enhance wound healing more than SSD (as the
standard treatment) in the second-degree wounds rat model.