Evaluation of the burn healing properties of oil extraction from housefly larva in mice.

Abstract

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the burn wound-healing properties of oil extraction from housefly larva by employing a deep second-degree model in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The burn wound-healing properties were evaluated by employing a deep second-degree model of burn wound assay. The anti-inflammatory activity and antibacterial activity were examined by employing the xylene-induced ear swelling model in mice and a disc-diffusion assay, respectively. RESULTS: The best wound-healing activity was observed with the oil extract of housefly larva, followed by Ching Wan Hung and the least active was that of saline solution. The oil extraction from housefly larva suppressed xylene-induced ear swelling in mice with 35.3% of the inhibition rate at the dose of 0.1 ml/30 g. The disc-diffusion assay of housefly larva oil showed positive effect to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, exhibiting no antibacterial activity to Escherichia coli. CONCLUSION: The study provides useful information that the housefly larva oil could be used as a natural ointment to heal the burn wound.