Effects of Topical Application of Royal Jelly on Second-Degree Burn Wound Healing in Male Rats

Background and Aims: Burn injury remain as a major medical problem throughout the world. This injury is accompanied with inflammatory and wound healing responses. Since royal jelly (RJ) has anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the repairing effects of RJ on skin burn- damage. Materials and Methods: In an experimental study, ۴۰ male Wistar rats (۸ weeks old) were engaged. The animals were divided into five equal groups. Group ۱ was considered healthy control. Group ۲ (positive control) was treated topically with Silver Sulfadiazine Cream, group ۳ received Eucerin as negative control, and group ۴, ۵ treated with RJ (۱۰ and ۳۰%). Sampling was performed after observing the second-degree burns on the first, seventh and fourteenth days. Then after ۲۸ days, rats were sacrificed and their skin tissues were used for morphological and morphometric assessments. Results: The results of this study showed that the amount and arrangement of collagen type ۱ protein was higher in the RJ treatment groups versus control group. Reconstruction and thickening of the epithelium in RJ treated groups confirmed therapeutic effects of RJ. In addition, RJ increased angiogenesis compared to the control group. The wound's surface area was reduced in the RJ treatment groups compared to the control group. In addition, fibroblast cell proliferation was increased in the groups receiving RJ versus control. Conclusions: It could be concluded that, RJ induce wound healing effects and might be considered as potential treatment option to improve the burn wound healing.