Synergistic Potential of Honey and Shatdhaut Ghrut in the management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in the Experimental rats

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a complex and major clinical problem amongst diabetic patients. Honey, Daruhaldi, and Shatdhaut ghrut are having ethnobotanical relevance in the management of diabetes and wound healing.

To study the potential of Honey (H), Daruhaldi (DH) and Shatdhaut ghrut (SDG) as well as their combination, i.e., Honey + Daruhaldi (H + DH) and Honey + Shatdhaut ghrut (H + SDG) on diabetic foot ulcer in experimental rats.

Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by Streptozotocin (STZ, 55mg/kg, i.p.) and DFU was created on a foot of each rat with a standard area of 2 mm × 5 mm. Then, animals were treated with vehicle, H, DH, SDG, H + DH, and H + SDG topically for 21 days.

Intraperitoneal administration of STZ resulted in significant increase (p < 0.001) in plasma glucose levels and decrease (p < 0.001) in body weight whereas concomitant treatment with H + SDG significantly ameliorated (p < 0.001) STZ induced alterations in plasma glucose levels and body weight as compared to H, DH, SDG alone as well as vehicle control group. Concomitant treatment with H + SDG significantly decreased (p < 0.001) wound area and significantly increased (p < 0.001) wound closure as compared with H, DH, SDG alone as well as a vehicle control group.

The findings of the present investigation suggested that concomitant treatment of Honey with Shatdhaut ghrut significantly ameliorated diabetes-induced foot ulcer in experimental rats. This synergistic potential of Honey and Shatdhaut ghrut accelerates delayed wound healing may be via inhibition of elevated plasma glucose levels and oxidative stress as well as activation of angiogenesis pathways.