Effects of topical allicin on second-intention wound healing in dogs-histological aspects

Abstract

Abstract Alllicin is one of the pharmacologically active<br><br>garlic sulfur compounds that have antimicrobial (antibacte-<br><br>rial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic) and vasodilating<br><br>effects. Five normal, male, mixed-breed dogs were selected<br><br>to investigate the effects of allicin (5 mg/ml in methyl<br><br>cellulose gel) as a topical treatment for full-thickness,<br><br>excisional wounds. The dogs were approximately 3 years<br><br>old. The histological aspects of second-intention wound<br><br>healing were studied. Eight full-thickness skin wounds<br><br>(20×20 mm) were created on the back of each dog. On<br><br>days 0, 7, 14 and 21, each dog received two wounds,<br><br>symmetrically, and were assigned to one of two groups:<br><br>control (methyl cellulose gel) or test (allicin 5 mg/ml methyl<br><br>cellulose gel). Wounds were treated once daily for a week.<br><br>Left-side wounds were treated with allicfin (test group) and<br><br>right-side wounds were treated with methylcellulose gel<br><br>(control group). At day 28 (4 weeks) after initial wounding,<br><br>biopsies were taken from wounds for histological examina-<br><br>tion. The density of inflammatory cells in the center of the<br><br>day 7 wounds was significantly lower in test group<br><br>(P=0.041), but the density of fibrocytes and fibroblasts in<br><br>the center of day 7 wounds was significantly higher in the<br><br>test group (P=0.042). No significant differences were<br><br>observed in the amount of collagen and fibrin between the<br><br>test and control wounds (P&gt;0.05).