Comparative trial of Aloe vera/olive oil combination cream versus phenytoin cream in the treatment of chronic wounds.
OBJECTIVE
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used to accelerate wound healing. Olive oil is also a natural product that may contribute to wound healing owing to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an Aloe vera-olive oil (AVO) combination cream on the healing process of chronic wounds.


METHODS
In this randomised, double-blind, comparator-controlled, parallel-group trial, patients with chronic wounds were treated with either AVO cream or phenytoin cream as the standard treatment for a period of 30 days. Wound healing was evaluated using Bates-Jensen assessment tool and the severity of pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS).


RESULTS
After initial assessment, 60 patients with chronic wounds (41 with pressure ulcer, 13 with diabetic wounds and 6 with venous ulcers), were recruited and randomised into 2 groups of 30. After 30 days of treatment, significant improvements in the wound size, depth, and edges; necrotic tissue type and amount; exudate type and amount; colour of wound surroundings; and peripheral tissue oedema score were observed in the AVO cream group (p<0.001). The total score of wound healing showed significant improvement with both AVO (p<0.001) and phenytoin (p<0.01) creams, although AVO was more efficacious (p<0.001). Likewise, although both treatments reduced the initial VAS score, the efficacy of AVO was significantly greater (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
AVO cream significantly accelerates biological healing of chronic wounds and helps to reduce pain severity with a higher efficacy compared with phenytoin cream.
Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Y
Y
Panahi
Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
M
M
Izadi
Pharmaceutical Consultant, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
N
N
Sayyadi
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
R
R
Rezaee
Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
N
N
Jonaidi-Jafari
Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
F
F
Beiraghdar
Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
A
A
Zamani
Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.|Metabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
A
A
Sahebkar
D000504:Aloe; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
C586178:Aloe vera gel; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000069463:Olive Oil; D028321:Plant Preparations; D010672:Phenytoin
Aloe vera; olive oil; randomised controlled trial; skin; wound