Chapter IV

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions, and

recommendations of the study.

This study primarily determined the meta-analysis of Coconut oil and Aloe Vera

on healing of acute wounds.

Summary

Specifically, this study aims to:

1. search for most updated studies about the effects of aloe vera on healing of

acute wounds;

2. search for most updated studies about the effects of coconut oil on healing of

acute wounds and

3. formulate a comprehensive review on the effects of aloe vera and coconut oil on

healing of acute wounds.

Summary of findings

The meta-analysis of data of the study are as follows:

1. Based on the comprehensive review of the data, the application of aloe vera

as an alternative for wound healing is confirmed. Accordingly, Yagi et al.

(2020) mentions that aloe vera have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing

activity that act as modulator to heal wounds and inflammations. The

fairly effective as medications such as Tulle- Framycetin Sulfate, Silver

Sulfadiazine and Oxoferin. It has expedited the recovery time to treat surgical

wounds especially for caesarean wounds. It has also been an effective

medicinal plant in treating incisions as it increases the number of fibroblasts in

animals which is responsible for tissue repair. It affirms the notion of Castillo

et al. (2018) that aloe vera reduces the recovery time of wounds as it

promotes proliferation and migration of fibroblasts. Moreover, for incised

wounds, the observed concentration that deemed alternative for the usual

medication is at 20%, however, for traumatic wounds, the higher the

concentration of aloe vera, the lesser the inflammation and recovery time that

can be observed. It is also indicated that aloe vera in treating epidermal

wounds has accelerated the falling of scabs as it repairs new skin underneath

compared to the treatment using normal saline (Olaifa, A. K., 2016).

Furthermore, aloe vera was also effective in treating burns. The application of

aloe vera in treating of rat burns has been more effective in terms of recovery

time than Silver Sulfadiazine (Macit et al., 2018). It showed a positive effect

that it can be an alternative for the usual medications. In addition, the study of

Lin et al. (2015) reveals that aloe vera along with resveratrol increases the

healing activity of burn wounds when applied topically. It shows that along

with aloe vera, the healing efficacy of wounds is accelerated. It is therefore

concluded that aloe vera can be an effective alternative for wound healing.
2. Based on the results of the gathered data in a comprehensive review, the

application of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) can accurately heal different types of

acute wounds. It can resist infection in the surgical wound and maintain

inflammatory inhibition for a longer period. According to Wiyani (2020), Virgin

Coconut Oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids, which can help with the well-

being or as a supplement. Virgin Coconut Oil's antioxidant function was

mostly attributed to the Phenolic compound. Because of its elements, it can

help to avoid infection. It has shortened the time it takes to heal from surgical

wounds. Since it has medical potential, such as antibacterial, antiviral, and

antifungal activity, VCO is a high-value coconut commodity. VCO treatment

resulted in an overabundance of fibroblasts and granulation cells. It can treat

surgical wounds. VCO has many benefits, including a high content of lauric

acid. Antibiotics such as antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-protozoa

monoglycerides are used to strengthen the human body's resistance to

disease and speed up the healing process (Widiyanti 2015). Moreover,

coconut oil can aid in the healing of traumatic wounds by preventing infection

and inhibiting long-term inflammation. The antibacterial and antioxidant

activities of coconut oil in the model animals are responsible for these results.

The potential of virgin coconut oil to act as an antibacterial to promote healing

and infection prevention. Virgin Coconut oil (VCO) has a significant positive

effect on wound healing while facilitating and speeding up the re-

epithelialization process. The length of the wound can be shortened by

applying coconut oil in proportion to the duration of ozone flow (Yuniati et al.
 2020). Furthermore, coconut oil can be used to treat burns because of its

moisturizing properties, which provide an ideal atmosphere for wound

healing. The higher the degree of VCO hydrolysis, the more active the burn

wound is in healing. Treatment with VCO in burn wounds affects epithelial cell

thickness and speeds up healing. According to Silalahi and Surbakti (2015)

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is primarily composed of medium-chain fatty acids,

especially lauric acid, and is easily absorbed. It can speed up cell

metabolism, moisturize wounds, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Free

fatty acids, monoglycerides, and diglycerides would result from partial

hydrolysis of VCO. Free fatty acids and monoglycerides, especially lauric acid

and monolaurin, have antibacterial properties.

3. The present study confirmed the findings about the healing capability of aloe

vera and coconut oil on acute wounds. Phenolic compounds found in the two

can speed up wound healing by regulating inflammatory markers and

oxidative stress. According to Zunairah et al., (2017), coconut oil produced a

significant effect on wound healing and cell viability while facilitating and

enhancing the re-epithelialization process. Correspondingly, aloe vera has

mannose-6-phosphate, a polysaccharide, supports the epithelialization

process and tissue reorganization, induces fibroblast proliferation, activates

collagen deposition, and accelerates wound healing (Burusapat, et.al., 2018).

Moreover, aloe vera gel reduces pain and inflammatory properties by

inhibiting the bradykinin effect and cyclooxygenase-2 synthesis (Yagi et al.,

2020). Whereas coconut oil heals wound by preventing infection and

having an overabundance of fibroblasts and granulation cells, aloe vera also

has fibroblasts and granulation cells which improves the structural framework

of tissues responsible for tissue repair. The results verified that using aloe

vera and coconut oil accelerates the wound healing process, mainly due to its

anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties (Hekmatpou et al.,

2019). Aloe vera and coconut oil has shown evidence on its positive effect on

treating acute wounds, such as, surgical, traumatic, and burn wounds.

Conclusions

Based on the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

1. Aloe vera showed a positive effect that it can be an alternative treatment

for surgical wounds, traumatic wounds, and burns. Each study has

conducted different tests about the efficacy of aloe vera. This concludes

that the aloe vera contributes to lessening the recovery time and

inflammation of surgical and traumatic wounds. It also accelerates the skin

and tissue repair for epidermal wounds. In burn wound treatment, it

showed almost the same effects as it lessens the recovery time and

increases the healing activity of the wound.

2. The utilization of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) was deemed effective on

surgical wounds, traumatic wounds, and burns. It is practically tested by

numerous studies due to the presence of antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-

fungal property enhancing the healing process along with infection

reduce inflammation as it is mainly composed of medium-chain fatty acids

that could speed up cell metabolism aiding in various applications from

wounds to burns.

3. The utilization of Coconut oil and Aloe vera gel has a positive effect on

treating acute wounds, such as, surgical, traumatic and burn wounds. The

healing capability of coconut oil and aloe vera on acute wounds produced

a significant effect on wound healing. Utilization of aloe vera and coconut

oil accelerates the wound healing process, mainly due to its anti-

inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties.

Recommendation

Based on the study, the following recommendations were drawn:

1. Since there are only few updated studies based on human trials,

researchers recommend that future researchers should consider

conducting further studies of Aloe Vera and/or Coconut oil in healing of

skin wounds with sample size or data, and human-based trials to

specifically identify the its effects on human.

2. Formation and production of Aloe Vera and/or Coconut Oil-based

organic wound ointment is recommended as both showed positive

results on its application on various wound types.