The Effect of Yunkyo on Open Wound Healing in Rats

Kim, Jung Il; Shin, Dong Hyeok; Lee, Sun Ku; Kim, Heon Joon; Choi, Jai Koo

Abstract

Wound healing of the skin and soft tissue defect is accomplished by generation of granulation tissue, collagen synthesis, contraction and re-epithelization. In the full-thickness skin wound, contraction plays an important role and fundamental principles in the treatment of infected wounds include the elimination of infection, the evacuation of pus, and the debridement of all necrotic material. The natural healing process of infected wounds can be expedited by the application of agents which will effectively eliminate infection with facilitating the healing process. Yunkyo is one of the most commonly used oriental herb medicine which is known to be effective in wound healing. In order to evaluate the effects of Yunkyo over wound healing and inhibition of bacterial growth, the author counted the bacterial colony in vitro and made skin defect on the back of rats for the comparison of reduced wound size and changes of tissue bacterial colony count after treatmnet with Solcoseryl, TCDO (Tetra-chloro-deca-oxide) and povidone. The results were obtained as follows: Calculating colony count in vitro, Yunkyo treated group was the most effective(p<0.001). There were significant differences between Yunkyo treated and control group in wound healing(p<0.001): Yunkyo healed the wound more rapidly. Calculating tissue bacterial colony count in open infected wound, Yunkyo treated group was showed the lowest colony count. In microscopic findings, the author observed marked growth of the granulation tissue, infiltration of the inflammatory cells, development of capillaries and even arrangement of collagen in Yunkyo treated groups than in the control group. In electron microscopy, abundant protein synthesis and myofilament in the myofibroblast were observed, and the authors found active wound contraction and the growth of granulation tissue. In conclusion, the Yunkyo has remarkable antibiotic effect and promotes wound contraction and the growth of granulation tissue in the process of wound healing.