<i>Allium stipitatum</i> Extract Exhibits In Vivo Antibacterial Activity against Methicillin‐Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and Accelerates Burn Wound Healing in a Full‐Thickness Murine Burn Model

Abstract

The in vivo antibacterial and burn wound healing potency of Persian shallot bulbs (<i>Allium stipitatum</i>) were explored in a mice burn model infected with methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA). Hexane (ASHE) and dichloromethane (ASDE) extracts were tested. Female BALB/c mice were inflicted with third-degree thermal injury followed by infection with MRSA. ASHE and ASDE formulated with simple ointment base (SOB) at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 5% (w/w) were topically applied to burn wounds twice a day for 20 days. Silver sulfadiazine (1%) served as drug positive control. Microbiological analysis was carried out on 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days postwounding (dpw) and histopathological analysis at the end of the experiment (20 dpw). Both ointments demonstrated strong antibacterial activity with complete elimination of MRSA at 48-72 h after infection. The rate of wound contraction was higher (95-100%) in mice groups treated with ASHE and ASDE ointments after 15 dpw. Histological analysis revealed significant increase (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in epithelialization and collagenation in treated groups. The ASHE and ASDE were found to be relatively noncytotoxic and safe to Vero cell line (383.4 <i>μ</i>g mL^-1; 390.6 <i>μ</i>g mL^-1), suggesting the extracts as safe topical antibacterial as well as promising alternatives in managing thermal injuries.