ABSTRACT
The healing of injured tissue is a mixed biological process involving tissue renewal, inflammation regulation, and extra cellular matrix restructuring. This research explores the efficacy of magnesium chloride-enriched bentonite clay in wound repair utilizing a rat model. Magnesium is vital for cell adhesion, fibroblast activation, and collagen production, whereas bentonite clay possesses established antimicrobial and antiinflammatory characteristics. The integration of magnesium chloride into the bentonite clay seeks to amplify its therapeutic effectiveness in wound care. The study involved generating consistent incisional wounds in Wistar rats, subsequently treated with either magnesium-enriched bentonite clay (experimental cohort) or Dermazin cream (control cohort). Wound healing progress was tracked for 20 days, with evaluations performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to examine the elemental composition and structural features of the clay. SEM analysis unveiled a highly porous, uneven microstructure within the bentonite clay, facilitating mineral exchange and uptake, potentially impacting wound fluid management and tissue regeneration. ICP and EDS analysis verified substantial concentrations of magnesium (4,330.85 mg/kg), calcium (3,962.95 mg/kg), and zinc (74.76 mg/kg)-all critical for cutaneous repair and collagen generation. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the predominant minerals in the clay specimen were bischofite, quartz, rondorfite, and osumilite, with magnesium chloride as the principal constituent. The strong diffraction signals from chlorine and magnesium atoms corroborate the existence of magnesium chloride (MgCl2), a key player in cell attachment, fibroblast movement, and collagen production-essential steps in tissue repair. The findings indicated that both treatments resulted in complete wound resolution by day 20; however, the standard treatment (Dermazin cream) displayed accelerated healing, achieving 90% closure by day 15, in contrast to the experimental group, which showed a slower initial rate but ultimately attained full healing. Despite its less rapid initial healing, magnesium-infused bentonite clay exhibited considerable wound-healing capacity suggesting its potential as a budget-friendly, naturally derived alternative to standard wound coverings. Nevertheless, additional clinical investigations are required to evaluate its safety profile, ideal application frequency, and long-term consequences in human wound care.
