Comparative Study of the Healing Effect of Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Versus Fusidic Acid on the Cutaneous Incisional Wound in Adult Male Albino Rats: A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Wound healing is a biological process through which the body repairs itself after an injury. Fusidic acid cream is widely used as a post-procedural antibiotic for wounds. Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) is a well-known plant in herbal medicine. It has numerous medicinal effects, such as immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and tuberculostatic effects in addition to its anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. The current study compares the healing role of Henna plant versus Fusidic acid cream on cutaneous incisional wounds in rats using histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Fifty-four adult male albino rats, weighing 200–250 g, were divided into three groups (18 animals per group): wound, Fusidic acid cream, and Henna-treated groups, where animals were subjected to wound induction. The wound group didn't receive any treatment. Fusidic acid cream group was treated with Fusidic acid cream. Henna-treated group was treated with henna paste. Each group was divided into three subgroups (6 animals per subgroup) to be sacrificed on days 2, 5, and 12. Skin sections were taken, and processed for histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Early dermal and epidermal regeneration in the 2nd day in the Henna-treated group was identified in comparison to the Fusidic acid cream-treated group which exhibited the same regenerative criteria on the 5th day. In addition, the henna-treated group revealed marked expression of P63 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in the dermis and epidermis on the 5th day, while the Fusidic acid cream-treated group showed mild expression. These findings suggest that Henna can accelerate cutaneous incisional wound healing compared to the Fusidic acid cream.