Histological Evaluation of Local Application of Licorice Oil on Facial Skin Wound Healing in Rats

Background: The biological process of wound healing involves four well organized stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Licorice root oil is commonly found in skin care products and is said to have remarkable calming characteristics. Licorice Root Oil is also frequently used in serums due to its soothing effects. Objective: Histological evaluation of the effect of topical application of licorice oil on the healing of facial skin wounds in rats. Methodology: Sixty male healthy albino rats that weigh about 250- 300 gram were utilized in this research. The experimental part of this study done in a private veterinary clinic in Al-Najaf city from 10/12/2023 to 18/12/2023. An incisional surgical wound to the full thickness of skin of about 20 mm length were done in cheek skin of all. The animals were divided randomly into the following groups: Control group: thirty rats, surgical incision was created at cheek right side that left for spontaneous healing without any treatment. Experimental group: thirty rats, surgical was created at cheek left side, received once daily local application of 30 um of licorice oil. Wound contraction, epithelial thickness and the number of inflammatory cells were assessed. All animals were scarified according to the healing periods that 15 control and 15 experimental were sacrificed for each healing period (three days and seven days), and samples required for the histological section had been collected. Results: It was observed that there is rise in the wound contraction and epithelial thickness, and decrease in inflammatory cell count from 3 to 7 days having a significant difference which is higher in the experimental group as compared to that in the control group. Conclusion: Results showed that local application of licorice oil improves healing of wound in rats.