Evaluation of Healing Effect of Nitrofurazone in Cutaneous Full Thickness Wound in Experimental Rat Model

Healing Effect of Nitrofurazone on Full-Thickness Cutaneous Wounds in Rats

Abstract

Background: Wound healing is a complex process involving coordinated cellular and molecular events to restore skin integrity. Full-thickness cutaneous wounds pose major challenges and demand effective treatment strategies. Nitrofurazone, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, is used for treating various wounds, but its effectiveness in full-thickness wound healing remains insufficiently studied.
Materials and Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the healing effects of Nitrofurazone in a rat model of full-thickness cutaneous wounds. The experimental design included 14 rats, divided into control and Nitrofurazone-treated groups. Wound contraction, epithelialization period, histopathological analysis, and scar formation were assessed at multiple time points (1^st, 4^th, 7^th, 10^th, 14^th, and 21^st days). Statistical analyses included independent two-sample t-tests, paired t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Chi-square tests for different parameters.
Results: Significant differences in wound contraction were observed between the control and Nitrofurazone groups on the 4^th and 7^th days, with Nitrofurazone-treated rats showing improved wound closure. The epithelialization period was shorter in the Nitrofurazone group, but not significantly. Histopathological analysis revealed significant fibroplasia in the Nitrofurazone group. However, there were no significant differences in scar formation, angiogenesis, or inflammatory cell infiltration between the two groups.
Conclusions: Nitrofurazone demonstrated enhanced wound contraction and fibroplasia in the early stages of wound healing, suggesting its potential for improving wound healing dynamics. However, its effects on long-term outcomes, including scar formation, were not significant. Nitrofurazone could be a valuable antimicrobial agent in wound management, but its role in long-term wound remodeling and scar control needs further studies.

KYAMC Journal Vol. 16, No. 03, October 2025: 135-141.