Effect of Malva sylvestris hydroethanolic leaf extract on the healing of full-thickness, excisional skin wounds in the rat

The healing of full-thickness wounds has always attracted attention due to disruption of the healing process that leads to prolonged recovery period. Therefore, the quest for finding clinically effective wound-healing agents is important in the medical management of full-thickness wounds. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Malva sylvestris hydroethanolic leaf extract on wound healing process in 54 male rats. Two standardized circular surgical full-thickness excisional wounds with a diameter of 7mm were created in the dorsal skin of vats in all three groups. The rats in the two treatment groups were treated with ointments containing 1.5% and 3% of the extract mixed with yellow soft paraffin, whereas the rats in the control group were only treated with yellow soft paraffin. Treatments were applied immediately after wounding and also for 16 consecutive days post-wounding. Wound-healing was assessed microscopically in terms of the initiation of neo-dermal tissue deposition and wound closure over a 16-day period. Significant increase in wound contraction rate was seen in the treatment groups, especially the 3% group, compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, the inflammatory cell score showed a decrease, whereas new vessel formation, fibroblast distribution, collagen production and epidermis thickness increased in Malva sylvestris hydroethanolic leaf extract-treated animals. These results suggest that the topical application of Malva sylvestris hydroethanolic leaf extract has beneficial effects on full-thickness excisional wound healing.