EFFECT OF ONOPORDON ACANTHIUM ON FULL-THICKNESS DERMAL WOUND HEALING IN RABBIT

In this study the healing properties of a medicinal plant commonly used in Iran, Onopordon acanthium known as cotton thistle was investigated. This plant has been used in the traditional Iranian medicine, as an aid in the treatment of wounds. In order to access which part of this plant contained the principle ingredient(s), hydroalcoholic extract of the roots, stems, leaves and flowers were separately prepared. The extracts were formulated into an eucerin-based ointment and applied once daily to a full thickness excision wound (2x2 cm) inflicted on the mid-dorsal area of White Newzealand rabbit. Measurement of the wound surface area was employed as the parameter by which the effectiveness of each preparation was assessed. The wound areas were traced on transparencies and the areas were quantified by placing the transparency film over graph paper and counting the squares. Compared with other extracts, the results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract from the flowers is the most effective. Dose-response curves showed that 0.2% w/w flowers extract has the optimum concentration which induced the fastest rate of healing, inducing a complete healing in 6 days compared with 17 days with the ointment base alone. The results suggest that this extract is an effective preparation in the treatment of wounds in this model.