Comparison of the royal jelly and povidone iodine on wound healing in rabbits

The effects of Royal Jelly (RJ) on wound healing were investigated and compared to commonly used 10% povidone iodine and 0.9% sodium chloride treatment. Three full-thickness skin defects, 3,14 cm in diameter, were created on dorsal aspects of 12 rabbits. Wound surfaces were macroscopically examinated from the points of exudation, beginning of the contraction, granulation tissue and epithelization during the postoperative period. Biopsy specimens which were collected on the 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th Postoperative Days (POD) were evaluated for histopathological changes. Specimens were evaluated according to several histopathologic parameters, such as the thickness of scar tissue, the density of vascular proliferation and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration. SPSS 11.0 for windows was used for statistical analyses. Thickness of scar tissue was significantly changed between the treatments of RJ and 0.9% sodium chloride (p<0.05), while the wound treatment with 10% povidone iodine and 0.9% sodium chloride created similar results (p>0.05). The density of vascular proliferation between study groups was significantly different only on POD 4 and 16 (p<0.05). The degree of inflammatory cell infiltration was similar in all groups (p>0.05), but a significant difference between the 10% povidone iodine and 0.9% sodium chloride treatments on PODs 12 as an exception (p<0.05). In conclusion, daily topical royal jelly application to fall-thickness skin defects in rabbit accelerated wound healing. Other adventages of RJ are ease of application and the low cost.