Abstract

Wound healing following a skin burn is still a concern due to poor effectiveness and the side effects of the available topical and systemic drugs. Doxepin hydrochloride is an antidepressant drug which is effective for the treatment of moderate pruritus in patients with eczema and atopic dermatitis. Current study has evaluated the effect of topical and systemic doxepin to improve the histopathologic process of second-degree burn wound in mice. The mice were divided into 6 groups (n=6) including topical normal saline group, topical glycerin group, positive control group (topical phenytoin), topical doxepin 5% group and two concentration of doxepin injection groups including 15 and 30 mg/kg. Experimental burn wound was induced by contacting a heated rod with the dorsal skin of animals for 3 seconds. Care was taken twice daily for 21 days. Then the mice were euthanized and the skin samples were used for histopathologic evaluations. Significant difference was observed on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), collagen formation, epdermization and angiogenesis among the experimental groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). Injection of doxepin (5mg/kg) and topical glycerin significantly increased epidermis thickness compared to the other groups (P<0.05). These results suggested that topical and systemic doxepin is effective in wound healing process. TJPS-2019-0194