Histomorphometrical and Histopathological Evaluation of Hedera Helix Alcoholic Extract on Dermal Collagen Bundles

Hedera helix is an evergreen plant used in treatment of wounds in the Iranian folk medicine. One of the main stages in wound healing process is, the proliferative phase in which fibroblasts proliferate within the wounds and produce extracellular matrix. Collagen is the main constituent of extracellular matrix. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Hedera helix alcoholic extract on dermal collagen bundles in wound healing process.

7 adult Oryctolagus Caniculus rabbits were enrolled in this experiment. Four wounds were created on each rabbit. Alcoholic extract of hedera helix dried leaves were prepared. Wounds were treated with eucerin, phenytoin, hedera helix 10% and 20% eucerin-based creams for 20 days. On day 21 (after the completion of the experiment), skin samples were taken and the collagen bundles in reticular and papillary layers of the dermis were evaluated histologically.

Histological assessment of dermal collagen bundles in the reticular layer showed that both 10% and 20% hedera helix creams, increased collagen bundle thickness significantly, compared to eucerin treated wounds (P<0.001 and P<0.01). In papillary layer there was no significant effect in both groups. Compared to eucerin treated wounds, collagen bundles were more organized in phenytoin and hedera helix 10% and 20% cream treated wounds, in a Histomorphological point of view.

Our results showed that hedera helix contains phytochemicals which may act on the proliferative phase of wound healing process.