RESUMO
BACKGROUND: As silicon compounds including silatranes are known to be able to stimulate regeneration of collagen, many studies on the influence of silatranes on the process of wound healing have been conducted. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two new silatrane compounds (silatrane I, 1-vinylsilatrane; silatrane VII, 1-alkylsilatrane), tretinoin tocoferil (TT), and Centella asiatica extract (CAE) on the wound healing of experimental rat ulcers. METHOD: Twenty four male rats (weighing about 250-300g) were used in this study. Two full-thickness excised wounds were created on the back of each rat under anesthesia, and they were divided into the following eight groups (each group had 3 rats), according to the treatment modalities; Group 1: treated with silatrane I on the left ulcer and TT on the right ulcer; Group 2: treated with silatrane I on the left and CAE on the right; Group 3: treated with silatrane VII on the left and TT on the right; Group 4: treated with silatrane VII on the left and CAE on the right; Group 5: treated with silatrane I on the left and ointment base (control) on the right ; Group 6: treated with silatrane VII on the left and ointment base on the right ; Group 7: treated with TT on the left and ointment base on the right ; Group 8: treated with CAE on the left and ointment base on the right. Wound surface areas were measured daily and three parameters were compared; the percentage of wound contraction, speed of healing and complete healing time. RESULTS: The percentage of wound contraction in the two silatrane compounds and TT treated groups at the 7th day was greater than that of the control group. However, the ulcers treated with CAE did not show any statistically significant difference, as compared to the control. The speed of healing in the first 7 days for the two silatranes and TT treated groups was faster than that of the control group. But, the ulcers treated with CAE did not show any statistically significant difference, as compared to the control group. The woourds took less time to completely heal in the silatrane VII and TT treated groups than in the control. Nevertheless, the ulcers treated with the silatrane I and CAE did not show any statistically significant difference, as compared to the control. CONCLUSION: The Two silatrane compounds are as effective as TT in the treatment of rat skin ulcers.
