Comparison of the effects of zinc-silver cream and Nigella sativa oil on wound healing and oxidative stress in the wound model in rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) and zinc-silver cream in a rat model of wound healing by means of clinical appearance, histopathology, oxidative stress parameters, and biomechanical tests. The rats were divided into three groups, each having twenty animals. Group 1 served as a control having wound. Other two groups received either NS oil or zinc-silver cream in addition to the wound. The study was initiated after the animals rested for 2 weeks for acclimation. Blood samples were collected from 10 randomly selected animals from each group at days 0, 3, 7 and 14 for oxidative stress measurements. Differences among groups for blood lipid peroxidation and antioxidant values were determined with respect to biochemical oxidative stress results (P<0.01). Wound sites of 10 animals from each group were allocated for histopathological examinations, and those of the remaining 10 animals from each group were used in biomechanical testing._Histopathological examination revealed that epithelization occurred in all groups. Inflammatory response with an intensive vascularization was present in the samples of the silver group (P<0.01). Consequently, zinc-silver group has differed positively in terms of biochemical and biomechanical and histological aspects compared to other groups for wound healing and oxidative stress.