Wound healing effect of eggshell membrane enriched￾ointment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of eggshell membrane powder (ESM) and zinc-enriched plant seeds (LNS) on wound healing. Eggshell waste was selected and collected from confectionery shops in El Oued (Algeria). Colorimetric assays for the content determination of proteins and total sugars included the Bradford method and the Dubois method, respectively. Characterization techniques of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to study the structural and compositional properties of ESM and LNS powders. The study evaluated the biological effects in vivo by applying an ointment consisting of 50% ESM and 50% LNS mixed in with petroleum jelly. The ointment was applied once to the wounds of female Wistar albino rats. According to biochemical study, the protein content of ESM is higher—it reaches 88.94%—than that of LNS, which is just 7.40%. Total sugar content was also higher in ESM (7.25%) than in LNS (1.50%). FTIR spectroscopy verified the existence of protein￾related functional groups (such as amides) in ESM, while LNS spectra revealed strong peaks attributable to polysaccharides and ester/phosphoryl linkages. Moreover, calcium carbonate in ESM gave rise to a crystalline structure in X-ray diffraction (XRD), whereas LNS showed an amorphous pattern that was in keeping with its carbohydrate and dietary fiber content. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that, in comparison to LNS alone or the control group, the ESM+LNS combination markedly accelerated wound closure. By day six, there was a noticeable synergistic impact as the wound healing rate in the ESM+LNS group increased to almost 75%, compared to 60% in the LNS group and just 23% in the control group. Additionally, histological sections demonstrated that the ESM+LNS group had nearly full skin repair, with collagen fibers rearranged and dermal appendages like hair follicles and sebaceous glands returning, characteristics not seen in the other groups. These results lend credence to the idea that ESM supplies a structural and bioactive basis that promotes tissue regeneration, while LNS contributes antioxidant and pro-angiogenic qualitie