title: Evaluation of healing and antimicrobiological effects of herbal therapy on venous leg ulcer: pilot study.
abstract: Venous leg ulcers represent a significant public health problem that will increase as the population ages. Numerous herbs and their extracts are potentially conducive to wound healing, including the ability to serve as an antimicrobial, antifungal, astringent, etc. A total of 32 patients with venous leg ulcers were randomized into two groups: a group with herbal therapy treatment (PT) (17 patients) and a control group (C) (15 patients). The investigation focused on five controls of parameter changes important for ulcer healing and the control of microbiological flora. Within-treatment analysis of the PT group showed that, following herbal therapy treatment, there was a significant decrease in the scores of surface leg ulcer and venous leg ulcer after week 7 of treatment (p < 0.05). In group C following topical antibiotic treatment there was no significant decrease in the surface leg ulcer. Comparing the results of decreased venous leg ulcer surface of the) PT group with the C group showed a significant difference at p < 0.05 after week 7 of treatment. The number of different types of isolated bacterial species decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the use of herbal preparations. The results of this pilot study demonstrate the healing and antimicrobiological effects of herbal therapy on non-infected venous leg ulcer.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, Clinical Center Nis, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Binić
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.forename: Dimitrije
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vrucinić
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations