A comparative study of the wound healing properties of Gelam honey and silver sulfadiazine in diabetic rats

One of the complications that is associated with diabetes patient is impaired wound healing. In this study, the effect of Gelam honey on diabetic wound healing was investigated. Diabetes was induced via single intraperitoneal injection of 60mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) in 24 Sprague-dawley male rats and then were randomly divided into three groups (n=8). Three centimeter full-thickness incisional wounds were created at the right and left part of the rats dorsum. Group I, was treated with Gelam honey, Group II with silver sulfadiazine (SSD) and Group III was left untreated. The wounds were evaluated on days 1, 5, 10 and 15 post-wounding for gross appearances and histopathological changes. Wound closure, including both re-epithelialization and wound contraction, were significantly increased in Gelam honey treated wounds. In addition, wounds treated with Gelam honey also showed better sign of healing as it improved the cosmetic appearances of the scars making it less visible. Histopathological studies showed that wounds treated with Gelam honey attenuated inflammatory response, accelerated granulation tissue formation and collagen deposition much faster than SSD and untreated groups. These results substantiate the beneficial effects of the topical application of Gelam honey in the acceleration of diabetic wound healing as compared to SSD.