Comparison of the effects of collagenase and extract of Centella asiatica in an experimental model of wound healing: An immunohistochemical and histopathological study

In this study, we compared the effects of collagenase and Centella asiatica in the rat model. Twenty‐seven female rats were divided into three groups, and two full‐thickness wounds were made for each animal. Collagenase ointment was applied topically to Group I and C. asiatica ointment to Group II rats. In Group III, no treatment was applied. On the third day of treatment, wounds on the left side of three animals of each group were excised. On the fifth and eighth day of the treatments, the same procedure was performed for the remaining animals. Indirect immunohistochemical examination was performed to detect transforming growth factor beta (TGF)‐β, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and iNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor, TGF‐α, laminin, fibronectin, collagen I, and interleukin‐1β. According to the measurements of the wound areas and wound healing periodo, collagenase was superior to the control group. Immunohistochemical examinations showed strong (+++) iNOS and TGF‐β immunoreactivities in C. asiatica group. eNOS immunoreactivity was moderate (++) in this group. For the collagenase group, iNOS, eNOS, and TGF‐β immunoreactivities were moderate (++). In the collagenase group, while TGF‐β and iNOS immunoreactivities were weaker, laminin and fibronectin reactivities were stronger than in C. asiatica and control groups. Collagenase was superior to C. asiatica according to the immunohistochemical findings. Collagenase ointment significantly improves the quality of wound healing and scar formation and is a more appropriate treatment choice than extract of C. asiatica in the early stages of the wound healing process.