Ultrasonic Enhancement of Aloe Vera Gel Effect on Full-thickness Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the ultrasound-enhanced Aloe Vera gel efficacy on diabetic
wound healing in rats. Methods: Sixty male, rats were used and classified randomly into
three groups; (A, B, and C.) Interventions: Streptozotocin (STZ) was intraperitoneally
injected for induction of diabetic model. A diabetic wound area of 6 cm2 on the back of each
rat was made after anesthesia. In group (A): Twenty rats received combined treatment of
topical Aloe Vera gel and ultrasonic waves with a frequency of one MHz, an intensity of a
half-watt per centimeter square and 40% on-off cycle. In groups (B): Twenty rats received
ultrasonic waves with the same parameters as in group A then followed by topical Aloe Vera
gel application while the last 20 rats in group (C) received the same combined treatment in
group (A) while the ultrasound device was in off mode. Session time for A and C groups
was 5 minutes while for the group (B), the time was totally 10 minutes; 5 minutes for
ultrasonic and 5 minutes for topical Aloe Vera gel. All groups received 3 sessions/week for
two weeks. Outcome measures: Wound area and its reducing rate were measured 3 times;
at 0 day, and at the end of 1st and 2nd weeks. Results: Wound healing in group A was
significantly enhanced compared with that in the other two groups. Conclusion: Ultrasound
waves significantly enhance the effect of topical Aloe Vera gel on thefull-thickness wound
model in diabetic animals.