HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF SYNERGISTIC WOUND HEALING POTENTIAL OF HONEY AND Cocos nucifera WATER ON WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex process that involves a series of immunological and biological events. Honey and cocos nucifera (coconut) water are two natural substances that have been used for food and medicinal purposes. Each has been reported to possess wound healing properties due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic wound healing potential of honey and Cocos nucifera water using histological analysis on Wistar rats. The study involved creating a 1.5cm full thickness wound on the dorsal region of 15 healthy Wistar rats. The honey and the extracted coconut water were applied topically to the wounded rats. The rats were divided into five groups. Group A was untreated and allowed to heal naturally, group B was treated with a standard drug (silver Sulphadiazine), group C was treated with honey, group D was treated with Cocos nucifera water and group E was treated with a mixture of honey and Cocos nucifera water. The wound length and percentage of recovery were measured on the 4th, 7th, 10th, and 13th days, and histological analysis of the wounded area was performed on the 14th day. The results showed that the application of the extracts significantly improved wound healing rates compared to the untreated group. The histological analysis also showed enhanced cellular proliferation, blood vessel formation, epidermal regeneration, granulation tissue formation, and collagen formation. The research concluded that both honey and Cocos nucifera (coconut) water possess synergistic wound healing effect.