Comparison between the Effect of Silymarin and Silver Sulfadiazine on Burned Wound Healing in Rats

A burn is an injury caused by transfer of thermal energy into tissue resulting in disruption of its normal anatomical structure. An experiment was carried out to compare the effect of silymarin and silver sulfadiazine on burned wound healing in rat. In this study, 36 Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. A burn was generated on the backs of all rats by brass probe. The burned areas in the first group (control) did not receive any medication, the second group received oral silymarin. Wound areas in third, fourth and fifth group were covered daily with 5%, 10% and 20% silymarin ointment. Silver sulfadiazine was applied as daily topical treatment of burned wound in the sixth group. At post injury days 0, 5, 7, 14 and 21, rats from each group were selected, sacrificed and burned skin tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination. Ulceration, acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, crust formation and granulation tissue formation were assessed. The result of this study showed that the use of 10% silymarin significantly enhanced the burn wound healing process as compared to silver sulfadiazine and other silymarin concentrations.