Althaea officinalis L. Extract Heals Skin Wounds in Second-Degree Burns in Mice

Burns are one of the most common injuries; however, there are few medications to repair burned skin. Although antibacterial drugs such as topical silver sulfadiazine may prevent wound infections, they usually cannot accelerate skin healing. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.) has long been used in Iranian traditional medicine to deal with skin burns.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of A. officinalis on the histopathologic parameters of second-degree burns in mice.

The mice were randomly divided into nine groups (n = 6), including control and treatment groups. Experimental second-degree burns were induced on the dorsal skin of the mice by a metal plate (2 cm in diameter) under general anesthesia. Control and treatment groups were treated twice a day for 21 days topically. Normal saline was used for the control group, and hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of A. officinalis in three concentrations (1%, 2%, and 4%) were used for the treatment groups. All preparations were made in a hydrogel base. Finally, the histopathological parameters of the burned skin, including polymorphonuclear (PMN) migration, epithelialization, angiogenesis, and collagenization, were scored, and the total score of wound healing was calculated.

The findings showed that topical application of hydroalcoholic or aqueous extracts of A. officinalis accelerated the wound healing process. They reduced PMN migration, collagenization, epithelialization, and angiogenesis scores compared to the control group. There was a significant difference between the 4% hydroalcoholic extract group and the normal saline group.

Althaea officinalis may have been used as an adjunct medication to accelerate wound healing in skin burns.