Abstract

The wound healing process naturally progresses through several phases, including hemostasis, inflammation, fibroplasia, and maturation. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of gel and cream formulations of catfish oil in promoting wound healing in mice. The present study consisted of eight groups, each with five mice. The groups included a cream base of catfish oil (P1), a gel base of catfish oil (P2), fish gel at 1 (P3), fish gel at 2 (P4), fish cream at 1 (P5), fish cream at 2 (P6), povidone iodine (P7), and a commercial ointment (P8). The preparations were applied in an adequate amount to the injured skin surface. The mice were subjected to a 2- centimeter incision wound and treated once daily for 14 days. The parameters observed included signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, and discharge. Formulations containing 1 and 2 catfish oil facilitated faster wound healing compared to plain cream and gel, proving to be as effective as povidone iodine and commercial ointments. Specifically, the gel preparation containing 1 catfish oil, the cream formulation with 1 catfish oil, and the 2 catfish oil formulation yielded the most promising results in accelerating the healing time of incision wounds in mice. © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.