title: The healing effect of nettle extract on second degree burn wounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous studies were carried out to develop more sophisticated dressings to expedite healing processes and diminish the bacterial burden in burn wounds. This study assessed the healing effect of nettle extract on second degree burns wound in rats in comparison with silver sulfadiazine and vaseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty rats were randomly assigned to four equal groups. A deep second-degree burn was created on the back of each rat using a standard burning procedure. The burns were dressed daily with nettle extract in group 1, silver sulfadiazine in group 2, vaseline in group 3 and without any medication in group 4 as control group. The response to treatment was assessed by digital photography during the treatment until day 42. Histological scoring was undertaken for scar tissue samples on days 10 and 42.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was observed in group 1 compared with other groups regarding 4 scoring parameters after 10 days. A statistically significant difference was seen for fibrosis parameter after 42 days. In terms of difference of wound surface area, maximal healing was noticed at the same time in nettle group and minimal repair in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed maximal rate of healing in the nettle group. So it may be a suitable substitute for silver sulfadiazine and vaseline when available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Research Center, Hazrat Fatima Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fatemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran;
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iranpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran;
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khodarahmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baghaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mir Sepehr
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pedram
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Araghi
keywords: Burn; Healing; Nettle; Rat; Silver sulfadiazine; Vaseline; Wound