Saffron hastens healing of burn wounds

A study shows that saffron (Crocus sativus) can hasten the healing of burn wounds. The study, which was published in the journal Planta Medica, looked at the effect of saffron on burn wound healing in an in vivo model.

• Saffron is a spice with various pharmacological properties.
• This spice mainly contains crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which have been recently considered in the treatment of various diseases.
• In conducting the study, researchers from Shiraz University in Iran topically applied saffron extract on burn wounds in rats.
• They measured the percentage of wound closure, wound contraction, and the levels of main cytokines and growth factors in rats.
• In addition, they applied saffron extract to investigate the proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells.
• The researchers observed a significant enhancement in the healing of wounds in saffron-treated rats.
• They also saw reductions in inflammatory markers in saffron-treated wounds.
• Moreover, saffron extract exhibited regenerative and anti-scarring effects.
• Based on the histological and biochemical findings of the researchers, saffron indeed dramatically promoted wound healing by modulating healing phases.

In conclusion, saffron can be used to promote skin repair and regeneration and to speed up burn wound healing process.

To read more studies on herbal wound medicines like saffron, visit PlantMedicine.news.

Journal Reference:

Alemzadeh E, Oryan A. EFFECTIVENESS OF A CROCUS SATIVUS EXTRACT ON BURN WOUNDS IN RATS. Planta Medica. November 2018; 84(16): 1191-1200. DOI: 10.1055/a-0631-3620