Antimicrobial and restorative effects of topical hydrogel formulation of Scrofularia striata plant extract on second-degree burn wounds: A clinical trial study.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and restorative effects of a topical hydrogel formulation of Scrofularia striata (S. striata) plant extract, Scrofularia Striata Hydrogel (SSH), on superficial partial thickness burn wounds. In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted in 2022, 80 patients with superficial partial thickness burns at Besat and Imam Hossein hospitals in Hamadan, Iran, were selected using convenience sampling. Patients were randomly assigned to four groups: SSH+ 1 % SSD, SSH alone, SSD alone, and SSD+Vehicle control (VC). Wound area (mm²) was measured daily using transparent paper tracings analyzed with ImageJ software until complete healing. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test, and Chi-square tests with SPSS software (version 23). The SSH group exhibited significantly shorter wound healing times (8 days) compared to the SSD+SSH (10 days), SSD alone, and SSD+VC groups (p < 0.001). No infections were reported across all groups. SSH significantly accelerates the healing of superficial partial thickness burn wounds and is recommended as a promising alternative or adjunct to SSD.