A study investigated Alpinia officinarum (AO) (galangal) for its healing effects on experimental contact type burns and compared its effects with silver sulfadiazine (SSD).

Thirty-five rats were grouped equally into five groups. They were given superficial second-degree burns at the three shaved areas on their back for 10 s followed by irrigation with a 100 cc saline solution for 2 min. 

• Group I (Control) observed no procedure or treatment.
• Group II (Burn Control) was only irrigated,
• Group III (SSD) observed topical application SSD 4 times, with 6-h intervals (at h 0, 6, 12 and 18),
• Group IV (Galangal) observed topical application of AO 4 times, and
• Group V (Gel) observed application of placebo topical material, used for the preparation of topical AO, 4 times. 

Histopathological evaluation of wound healing findings was done.

The following observations were made-

• Galangal group showed non-penetration of collagen discoloration into the deep dermis than other groups; epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands were protected than the burn control group, and a thicker layer of the epidermis was seen.
• Histologically, the galangal group proved to be near similar to the control group.
• Galangal group, showed a higher number of vessels and total hair follicles in the 8th h and 4th h respectively, while epidermal thickness and number of degenerated hair follicles remained higher in all hours than the other three groups.
• Galangal group showed the lowest scores regarding edema, polymorphonuclear leukocytes infiltration, collagen discoloration, injury of vessels, hair follicles and sebaceous glands than other groups and within groups processes.

Thus, the topical application of AO containing gel 4 times daily within the first 24 h proves to be effective in the experimental contact type second degree burn model. Along with that, it is superior to SSD treatment, particularly in the first 8 h of administration.

Source- Kadam K, Kıyan S, Uyanıkgil Y, Karabey F, Çetin EÖ. Investigation of acute effects of topical Alpinia officinarum (galangal) treatment in experimental contact type burns and comparison with topical silver sulfadiazine treatment. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2022 Jan;28(1):15-26. English. doi: 10.14744/tjtes.2020.69002.