macroscopic and microscopical investigations of the effects of alcoholic extract of henna (lawsonia inermis) on skin healing of experimentally induced tissue damage in macro fish (labidochromis caeruleus)

one of the well-known herbal drugs is henna (lawsonia inermis). according to the components in henna, several beneficial properties (i.e., antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, wound healing, trypsin inhibitory and antioxidant) have been reported. the present study was designed to investigate the effects of two natural substances (sodium chloride and henna extract) on experimental skin lesion due to pulling out scales and trypsin injection (0/02 ml, beneath dorsal fin). for this purpose, 54 fish in weight 5/5±0/55 of were divided to 3 groups, with eighteen fish in each group. fishes were placed in laboratory condition in 22-25 ˚c. two, four and six days after induction of skin injury, fishes were treated with different agents for 10 minutes. first group was treated in salt water 1%, second group in henna extract 0.5% and the control group without any additives. the fish were sampled weekly, 3 times by sampling from the wound. macroscopic examination showed that color changes of wound place decreased in henna group in comparison with that other groups. in third week of healing, normal appearance of skin were seen in most of fishes in henna and salt groups. microscopic study revealed a decrease in inflammatory cells infiltration in henna group second week after induction of skin injury. it seems that henna by decreasing inflammatory process, can also prevent skin damage and secondary infections that can help faster and more effective on wound healing than salt bath in fish.