Naturally occurring isohexenylnaphthazarins and wound healing: experimental study in dogs.

Background: The healing efficacy of isohexenylnaphthazarins (IHN) has been well proved on chronic or contaminated wounds.

Objective: To evaluate the wound healing activity of an experimental ointment containing IHN on acute and noncontaminated wounds in dogs.

Methods: In each of six beagle dogs, four full-thickness skin defects were created bilaterally: one 2 x 2 cm defect on the lateral aspect of each arm for subjective evaluation, laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and planimetry and three 1.5 x 1.5 cm defects on opposite sides of the dorsal midline for histologic evaluation. Wounds on the left were treated with an ointment based on IHN and on the right with another based on petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and beeswax.

Results: Wound size decreased significantly in both sides. The significantly increased percentage of epithelialization was higher (p = .0274) in the petroleum jelly-treated wounds on day 20. Tissue perfusion (LDF) increased significantly bilaterally in the center of the wound but only in the IHN-treated side cranial to the wound. Histologically, angiogenesis was significantly higher (p = .0431) on day 5 in the IHN-treated wounds compared with the petroleum jelly-treated wounds. Collagen production increased significantly bilaterally.

Conclusion: The IHN-based ointment promoted some of the proliferative processes, but it did not enhance the overall wound healing of acute, surgically created wounds in dogs.