effects of royal jelly on wound healing in healthy diabetic subjects

ABSTRACT

Wound healing was evaluated in diabetic and non diabetic patients before and after the application of royal jelly by clinical, histopathological and histochemical methods. For this purpose 10 diabetics with diabetic ulcers and 10 non diabetics with ulcers [traumatic and varicose ulcers] were collected from the out patient clinic, Monira General Hospital. Every patient was evaluated clinically and by some laboratory tests as fasting blood sugar, post prandial blood sugar, serum creatinine, and plasma protein electrophoresis. Skin biopsy from the edge of every ulcer was taken before and after the application of royal jelly for 7 consecutive days stained with routine Hx and E. for histopathological examination and stained histochemically for fibroblastic and vascular activity of alkaline phosphatase. It was found that after royal jelly application the non diabetic ulcers showed marked clinical improvement evidenced by regression, diminution in size, disappearance of pus from the infected ulcers, the decrease in depth, and the appearance of healthy red granulation tissue. While the diabetic ulcers showed some clinical improvement [39.9%] but less marked than that observed in non diabetics [68.9%].Histopathological evidence of healing after royal jelly application was noted in diabetics, the vascularity was markedly decreased, and so the inflammatory infiltrate. Fibroblasts were increased in number, with decreased formation of collagen. In non diabetics the histopathological evidence of healing of the ulcers was more marked, and the appearance of increased number of fibroblasts was associated with the formation of collagen and fibrous tissue. Alkaline phosphatase activity in diabetics showed no change after royal jelly application, while in non diabetics the alkaline phosphatase activity of fibroblasts and blood vessels was increased. In this study the local application of royal jelly appears to enhance the process of wound healing