Therapeutic Applications of Garlic and Turmeric for the Diabetic Wound Healing in Mice

Diabetes is involved in delayed wound healing that can be cured by natural products such as garlic, turmeric, and fibroin extracts. Alloxan monohydrate is used for inducing diabetes in mice. The percent wound contraction of garlic (150 mg/ml), turmeric (100 mg/ml), and fibroin (50 mg/ml), individually and in combinations garlic (150 mg/ml) + fibroin (50 mg/ml), turmeric (100 mg/ml) + fibroin (50 mg/ml), garlic (150 mg/ml) + turmeric (100 mg/ml), and garlic (150 mg/ml) + turmeric (100 mg/ml) + fibroin (50 mg/ml) was checked by evaluating the healing time, % wound contraction and histological analysis. The serum level of MMPs (MMP 2, MMP7, MMP 9), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8), and TIMPs were evaluated. With the combination of three extracts (Ga+Tu+Fi) garlic (150 mg/ml), turmeric (100 mg/ml) and fibroin (50 mg/ml), wounds healed in 12 days and had 97.3 +/- 2.2% wound contraction. While the positive control (polyfax) and diabetic control (saline) wounds healed in 17- and 19-days with wound contraction of 96.7 +/- 1.4% and 96.3 +/- 1.1%, respectively. Histological analysis showed that the combination of Ga+Tu+Fi exhibited an increase in the growth of collagen fibers, fibroblasts number, and keratinocytes, and lessened inflammation of blood vessels. The combination of Ga+Tu+Fi significantly alleviated the serum concentration of TNF-alpha (14.2 +/- 0.7 pg/ml), IL-6 (10.0 +/- 1.0 pg/ml), IL-8 (16.0 +/- 1.5 pg/ml), MMP2 (228.0 +/- 18.1 pg/ml), MMP7 (271.0 +/- 9.9 pg/ml), and MMP9 (141.0 +/- 5.3 pg/ml) to diabetic control. The level of TIMPs (193.0 +/- 9.1 pg/ml) was increased significantly with respect to diabetic control. We conclude that the combination of these biomaterials possessed high regenerative and healing capabilities and can be an effective remedy in the healing of chronic wounds in diabetic patients.