Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 6(6): 674-682, 2010 © 2010, INSInet Publication Comparative Efficacy of Ampucare and Silversulfadiazine against Burn Wound Rat Vivek K.Dwivedi, Manu Chaudhary, Adnan Ahmad, Arvind Soni and Vijay Naithani Pre clinical Division, Venus Medicine Research Centre, Hill Top Industrial Estate, Bhatoli Kalan, Baddi, H.P. - 173205 India Abstract : The present study was undertaken to investigate the comparative efficacy of ampucare and silversulfadiazine drug on biochemical parameters in burn wound rat model. Burn injury was made on the ventral shaven area of the rats under anesthesia and the animals were treated topically twice daily with ampucare and silversulfadiazine drug for 14 days. Our results showed that in both treated groups, there was statistically significant (p<0.001) decrease in xanthine oxidase, nitric oxide and malonaldialdehyde levels along with significant (p< 0.001) increase in the ascorbic acid, protein and reduced glutathione level after 14 days of treatment when compared with infected group. But these parameters showed better response in ampucare treated group in comparison to silversulfadiazine treated group after 14 days treatment. Therefore, these findings concluded that ampucare has antioxidant property that reduces oxidative stress, improves enzyme activity and increases wound healing effect than silversulfadiazine drug after burn injury. Key words: wound healing, xanthine oxidase, nitric oxide, ampucare, silversulfadiazine INTRODUCTION Burn injury is accompanied by complex pathophysiological alterations that exert deleterious effect on various organ system [1] . Thermal injury initiates systemic inflammatory response, generation limitations of water vapour transport of oxygen radicals leading to peroxidation of biomolecules. It produces performed systematic changes such as anemia, renal failure, and metabolic changes etc. Various biological and metabolic alterations follow burn injury including degradation of adenosine triphosphate and significant reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids in red cell membrane [2,3] . It is related to alterations in proteins structure and moist environment depends on the quality of grossly visible change in the skin. The skin is one of the largest organs in humans and accounts for 15% of body weight and 10–25% of whole-body protein turnover [4] . Tissue repair and wound closure may last for weeks after burn injury, and closure usually requires extensive surgery and skin grafting [5] .Various complications that are exacerbated or favored by nutritional deficiencies can occur, such as infections, delayed wound healing, and muscle wasting [6] , infections remain a leading cause of death after major burns [7-9] . Healing of burn wound has still remained challenge to modern medicine though many drug are discovered. A wounds is described as a' break in continuity of tissue, from violence or trauma' and is regarded as helped if there is restoration of the wound and inflammed tissue to normal conditions. Wound healing involves a complex interaction between epidermal and dermal cells, the extra cellular matrix, controlled angiogenesis and plasma- derived protein all coordinated by an array of cytokines and growth factors [10] . There are four distinct stages involved in wound healing namely inflammatory stage, debridement stage, proliferation stage and maturation/remodeling stage [11] . Initial stages of wound healing involve an acute inflammatory phase followed by synthesis of collagen and other extracellular matrix which are later remodeled to form scar [12] . Certain factors such as bacterial infection, nutritional deficiency, drugs, sterility, movement of wound, edges, site of wound and wasting diseases distorts wound healing process during burn injury [13] . Ampucare is a oil based drug formulation which is used topically for the treatment of burn wounds. It is a polyherbal drug with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial product, which improves blood flow. It has an immunomodulatory action along with tissue regeneration properties. Wound healing is an important biological process involving tissue repair and regeneration. The active components of ampucare are Corresponding Author: Vivek K.Dwivedi, Pre clinical Division, Venus Medicine Research Centre, Hill Top Industrial Estate, Bhatoli Kalan, Baddi, H.P. - 173205 India, Phone No: 91-1795-302127; Fax No: 91-1795 302133 E-mail: vivekdwivedi@venusremedies.com 674