Evaluation of the wound healing potential of isoquercetin-based cream on scald burn injury in rats

BACKGROUND The present study was designed to evaluate the potential of isoquercetin-based cream formulation on scald burn wound injury in rats. METHODS Four isoquercetin-based cream formulations viz. 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06 % w/w were prepared. Cream base and standard anti-burn cream containing silver sulfadiazine were also used for comparison. Scald burn was given to rats by pouring water at 90 °C on a shaved dorsal area of 20 mm(2). Deep second-degree burn injury was produced which was evaluated for the next 21 days for the percentage of wound contraction and period of epithelialization. On day 21, the rats were sacrificed and histopathological slides were prepared using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Burned tissue was also screened for levels of oxidative stress using thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) estimation. RESULTS There was a significant increase in the percentage of wound contraction and a significant decrease in the period of epithelialization in isoquercetin-based cream-treated groups as compared with the control group. However, most significant results were obtained with isoquercetin 0.06 % w/w cream. Histologically, isoquercetin 0.06 % w/w cream treatment resulted in almost complete re-epithelialization and re-structuring of the wound tissue. There was a significant rise in TBARS and a decrease in GSH levels in the burn injury group which was reversed to a major extent by the application of isoquercetin-based cream. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate the wound healing potential of isoquercetin-based cream. Tissue biochemical studies indicate towards a possible role of free radical scavenging in the observed effects of isoquercetin in wound healing.