The Effect of Mummy on Some Indices of Wound Healing in Mice

Abstract: Introduction: Mummy was used in traditional medicine as a remedy for inflammation, articular injuries, rheumatism, bone fractures, wounds, and back pains. In a previous research, the healing effects of mummy on rabbit’s tibial fracture were studied and the results approved its efficacy. Considering some natives’ claim and suggestions of traditional medicine in regard to the effectiveness of mummy on wound healing, the present study was aimed to investigate the effects of mummy on some healing indices of wound. Method: In this experimental study performed on 56 mice, a vertical incision on the back of mice cutting through the complete thickness of skin was performed. The test groups (mummy), and the control groups (normal saline), were compared for some tissue indices of wound healing and the amount of tension needed to tear the cut by using the tensiometer after 3,7,14 , and 21 days. Results: Although the average tissue indices of wound healing differed in test and control groups, these differences were not statistically significant. The average of the tensions needed to tear the healed wound in test groups was significantly greater than that in the control groups. Conclusion: The difference between mean number of histological variables and mean necessary tension to tear open the healed wound between the test and control groups indicated the effectiveness of mummy in tensile stretch of wound healing process but its negligible effectiveness on histological indices of wound healing. Keywords: Mummy, Wound healing, Healing indices, Tensile stretch, Histopathology