Comparison of the Wound-Healing Potentials of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Lilium candidum (Liliaceae) Bulbs in a Mouse Model: A Histochemical Study

Lilium candidum (Liliaceae) is a bulbous plant traditionally used in folk medicine for wound treatment. In this study, aqueous and methanolic extracts of L. candidum bulbs (referred to as BEW and BEM, respectively) were prepared, and their wound-healing potentials were comparatively investigated using histochemical methods. Ointments containing 5 and 10% BEW or BEM were topically applied to excisional skin wounds in BALB/c mice once daily for 15 days. The results demonstrated that L. candidum bulb extracts exhibited wound-healing activity. The 10% BEW ointment enhanced wound contraction and basement membrane synthesis only, whereas 5 and 10% BEM ointments promoted not only wound contraction and basement membrane synthesis but also increased collagen and elastic fibre synthesis and accumulation in the dermis. These findings indicate that BEM is more effective in promoting wound-healing than BEW. This study provides scientific support for the traditional use of L. candidum in wound treatment and suggests that the methanolic extract may be preferable due to its superior healing effects.