Background: Herbal remedies are agents that are known to hasten the healing process of a variety
of wounds where plant products efficacy in wound healing was confirmed. Some of the most
important healing plants and herbal products are Aloe Vera, sesame oil and shea butter. Thus, this
study aimed to prepare ointments and creams that contain natural extracts of Aloe Vera, sesameoil and/or shea butter or a mixture thereof, characterize and investigate their efficacy in wound
healing process and compare their effect to that of Mebo® ointment and Betika® cream.
Methodology: The formulations were prepared, and their physicochemical properties were
characterized. These properties include the measurement of pH, homogeneity, appearance, rubout,
spreadable, after-feel, smear type, product removal, Draize test of skin sensitivity. Additionally,
the test of rancidity, rheological properties, stability, and antimicrobial activity of different
formulations were investigated. The in vivo potential for wound healing of all formulations was
also investigated using different groups of rats.
Results: Ointment formulations were homogeneous, smooth, greasy, and showed easy
spreadability and difficult removal after application. They did not produce any skin reactions, i.e.,
erythema and edema. The pH of all ointments ranged between 4.2 to 6.7, which lie in the normal
pH range of the skin. Additionally, the rheological behavior of all ointments was quite close to the
behavior of mebo® and blank ointment base. Regarding the rancidity test, all formulations showed
no rancidity at the beginning, i.e., oils used in the formulations were free from oxidation. All
preparations were monitored for changes in physical properties at different temperatures (4, 25
and 37°C) for 90 days. The results indicated that all ointment formulations were stable at 4 and
25°C for 3 months. However, at 37°C few formulations showed some changes in their physical
properties. Finally, in vivo studies indicated that all formulations showed positive effects on wound
healing in rats.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that a blend ointment containing herbal mixture of
15% of Aloe Vera, sesame oil and shea butter have a potent, synergistic, and accelerative wound
healing activity in rats compared with other groups. This mixture may be considered a new
therapeutic strategy that is effective in wound management and treatment.
Keywords: Herbal Remedies, Healing Process, Chronic wounds, Ayurvedic plants
Publication date: 15/12/2023
https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2023/December/MS_IJBPAS_2023_DECEMBER_SPCL_1051.pdf
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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2023/12.12.1051
