title: Morphometric evaluation of wound healing in burns treated with Ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia) honey alone and supplemented with ascorbic acid in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the context of the search for cost-efficient treatments, Ulmo (Eurcyphia cordifolia) honey is an excellent alternative for treating burn wounds and could have a profound medical, social, and economic impact. Ascorbic acid is an enzymatic co-factor necessary for the synthesis of collagen and the proliferation of fibroblasts and has been proposed as a coadjuvant to strengthen the healing effects of honey. The aim of this work was to evaluate by morphometric studies the healing wounds caused by burns treated with Ulmo honey alone and supplemented with ascorbic acid in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen guinea pigs were used and divided randomly into three groups: positive control (C+), experimental with unsupplemented honey (H), and experimental with supplemented honey (SH). A uniform deep burn covering 1 cm2of the back skin was performed. The following indices were calculated for the morphometric study: superficial contraction index of the wound, deep contraction index of the wound, wound severity index, global healing index, global contraction index, and dermal proliferation area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The superficial contraction index of the wound, global healing index, global contraction, and dermal proliferation area values of the experimental with supplemented honey group were higher than the other groups (P< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to these results, the combination of honey with an antioxidant (ascorbic acid) promotes an appropriate action to support the healing effect. This study showed that by supplementing the Ulmo honey with ascorbic acid, the healing and contraction effects can be strengthened in burn wounds compared to unsupplemented honey. These results were proof of the synergy between honey and ascorbic acid in healing burn wounds.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Morphological Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile ; CONICYT-PCHA/National Doctorate Programme/2014-21141130, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schencke
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Morphological Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile ; CIMA Research Group, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile ; CONICYT-PCHA/Doctorado Nacional/2015-21150991, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile ; Centro de Excelencia en Estudios Morfológicos y Quirúrgicos (CEMyQ), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile ; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Sol
keywords: Ascorbic acid; Burn; Honey; Morphometry; Wound healing