Application of a Chitosan-Based Hydrogel Dressing Containing Artemisia absinthium L. for the Burn Wounds: A Comprehensive In Vivo Study

Objective: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) is a valuable medicinal plant that has been used for the wound healing since ancient times. Hydrogel dressings are often preferred for wound care in treatment. In this study, the effects of chitosan-based hydrogel dressings containing wormwood were investigated in rats with burn wound model for the first time. Material-Method: Certain phenolic compounds in wormwood extracts were detected by LC-MS/MS and antioxidant activities were calculated using the DPPH. The antimicrobial activity of the dressings was tested using the disk diffusion method. Tissues taken from 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats were histopathologically examined at day 3rd and 21st. Skin tissue cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. All data obtained from histopathological examination and cytokine levels were statistically evaluated. Results: Fifteen phenolic compounds were quantitatively determined in wormwood extracts. The antioxidant activities of high-, medium-, and low-dose wormwood extracts were as 91,1% ± 0,054, 89,6% ± 0,012 and 84,1% ± 0,02, respectively. The hydrogel dressings did not show any antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (ATCC 29213) or P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). Granulation tissue formation, collagen increase, and regular scar appearance were higher in the all three wormwood groups. Wound contraction was completed and remodeling phase started at day 21st, especially in the high-dose wormwood treatment group. Tissue cytokine levels were determined in pg/ml in all groups. Conclusion: It was determined that A. absinthium L. can promote wound healing through various mechanisms of action and shows immunomodulatory effects, and is appropriate for use as a wound dressing in the form of a chitosan-based hydrogel.