Background: Thermal tissue injury is partly mediated by reactive oxygen metabolites. Oxygen free radicals
are contributory to local tissue damage following thermal injury and accordingly an interventional therapy
using antioxidants may be beneficial. Copper nicotinate complex can scavenge reactive oxygen species
(i.e., has antioxidant activity).
Objectives: To examine time-related morphological and biochemical changes following skin thermal injury and
their modulation by copper nicotinate complex.
Materials and Methods: An animal model composed of 80 albino rats was established. Ten rats (nonburn group)
served as a control group. Seventy rats (burn group) were anesthetized, given a 10% total body surface area,
full-thickness burn. Ten rats (from the postburn group) were sacrificed after 24 h (without treatment, i.e.,
untreated-burn group). The remaining rats were divided into three subgroups (20 rats, each) and were treated
topically either with soft paraffin, moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO, a standard therapeutic treatment
for burns), or copper nicotinate complex. Five animals from each subgroup were sacrificed every week over
a period of 4 weeks. The morphological and biochemical changes were evaluated and compared among the
different groups.
Results: High levels of the plasma and skin nitiric oxide (marker of oxidative stress) were observed in the
untreated-burn group. These levels were significantly low following the application of copper nicotinate
complex. Low levels of plasma and skin superoxide dismutase (marker of oxidative stress) and plasma ceruloplasmin
were observed in the untreated-burn group. These levels were significantly high following copper
nicotinate complex treatment. The total and differential leukocyte counts were low following the onset of the
thermal injury. They gradually returned to normal levels over a 4-week period following the application of
MEBO or copper nicotinate complex. Compared to untreated-burn group, postburn-healing changes (resolution
of the inflammatory reaction, reepithelization of the epidermis, angiogenesis, deposition of collagen fibers,
and recovery of the subcellualr organelles) were significantly accelerated following the application of either
MEBO or copper nicotinate complex.
Conclusions: Application of copper nicotinate complex was associated with improved healing of the thermal
burns of the skin. The underlying molecular changes underlying these effects await further investigations.