Volume 32, Issue 3, March 2012, Pages 139–145
Abstract
The objectives were to evaluate clinical and histopathological aspects of topical application of sunflower-seed oil (Helianthus annuus)
on the healing process of experimentally induced wounds in lumbar and
metacarpal areas of healthy horses. Six adult horses were used. Eight
wounds were surgically produced on each horse: two 6.25-cm2 wounds cranial to the sacrum on each side of the lumbar region and two 2.89-cm2
wounds close to the proximal epiphysis of the metacarpus on the lateral
aspect of each forelimb. Left side was used for macroscopic
observations and right side for histopathological analysis. The
experimental lesions were treated daily with sunflower-seed oil, whereas
saline solution was used in control lesions. Macroscopic and
histopathological analyses were performed on tissue harvested at 3, 7,
14, and 21 days. Complete healing time for all wounds was recorded. For
lumbar region’s wounds, a contraction of 90.78% was recorded for those
treated with oil and of 79.27% for control wounds after 21 days of
treatment. For metacarpal region’s wounds, a contraction of 47.63% was
recorded for wounds treated with oil and of 30.21% for control wounds.
Wounds in the sunflower-seed oil treatment group had an elevation of
polymorphonuclear cells, a newly formed vascular bed during the
inflammatory phase, and a better alignment of collagen fibers during the
remodeling phase. In conclusion, topical application of sunflower-seed
oil was beneficial in the healing process of experimentally induced skin
wounds in horses, with best results for treatment of lumbar wounds,
making it a therapeutic option in equine wound healing.
Keywords
- Horses;
- Sunflower-seed Oil;
- Wounds;
- Healing;
- Phytotherapy
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
