ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Historically, garlic containing compounds have been used on wounds to improve healing and ward off infection. Researchers have tested many of these ancient ointments, discovering that garlic is a common ingredient in those that are effective. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of topical garlic on surgical wounds compared with Vaseline by analysis of visual analog scales and digital photograph analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with 2 skin excisions applied a 30% garlic ointment to one surgical wound and Vaseline to the other surgical wound twice daily. They were followed up at 2 weeks and 4 weeks post-op. Digital photographs were taken of the sites, and wound visual analog scales were filled out by the patient and the physician. RESULTS: Patients and the onsite physician stated the garlic site healed better in 59% and 65% of the wounds, respectively, at 2 weeks. At 4 weeks, the patients and the onsite physician stated the garlic site healed better in 76% and 88% of wounds, respectively. Digital photograph analysis revealed less erythema at the garlic sites (p-value = .02). CONCLUSION: Surgical wounds treated with 30% garlic ointment healed with more cosmetically appealing scars than the Vaseline-treated sites.
Subject(s)
Cicatrix/prevention & control , Garlic , Ointments/administration & dosage , Skin Diseases/surgery , Wound Healing/drug effects , Administration, Topical , Adult , Esthetics , Female , Humans , Male , Petrolatum/administration & dosage , PhotographySubject(s)
Syphilis Serodiagnosis/methods , Syphilis/diagnosis , Adult , False Negative Reactions , Humans , Male , Reagins/blood , Syphilis/blood , Syphilis/pathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Allicin, the active component of garlic, has been shown to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic has also been used historically by many cultures to heal wounds. Several animal studies have shown that garlic extracts increase the rate of wound healing and decrease the rate of infection. OBJECTIVE: Fibroblasts play a key role in wound healing. Here we hypothesize that fibroblasts are being activated by allicin, leading to more organized and rapid wound repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six rats were each given 2 surgical wounds. One side was treated with a 30% garlic ointment while the other was treated with Vaseline for two weeks. A biopsy was taken from each scar site and histopathology with Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify the number of fibroblasts and proliferating fibroblasts in each site. RESULTS: The wound biopsies had more proliferating fibroblasts in the scars treated with the 30% garlic ointment than in the scars treated with Vaseline with a p-value of 0.0175 at two weeks post op and 0.081 at 6 week post op. CONCLUSION: This data tells us that allicin is acting on fibroblasts as there were more proliferating fibroblasts in the garlic treated sites than in the other sites.
