Abstract
Abstract
Shea butter is the fat extracted from the nut of Africa Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). Which has multiple uses at the local level as it is used in cosmetic formulations and as a substitute for Cocoa butter in chocolate industries. This study is a comparative experimental study of the possible burn healing effect between imported South African raw Shea butter and samples in Libyan market. A sample of raw Shea butter was brought from South Africa (Benin traditional markets). Eighteen different samples were collected from different sale centers in Tripoli including pharmacies, beauty shops and spices shops. In addition to one sample brought from Poland. Animal experiment on burn healing effect was performed on nine Male Sprague Dawley (350-400 g) and 6-8 weeks old. After shaving animal's dorsum hair. A metal created deep second-degree burn wound. Medication with Shea butter (control, T1 and 2) was on burned areas. On day 1, 3 and 7, rats were anaesthetised, a sample from burned scar tissue and skin adjacent were put in 10% formalin solution. Skin slices were, evaluated using pathological parameters including epithelisation, inflammatory cells, and vascularity. Histological study indicates that the Use of Shea butter T1 as topical treatment induce immune response , which enhanced in the form of the presence of large number of inflammatory cells in epidermis and dermis of the treated- burn wounds. The treatment of burned skin with T2 for 72 hrs. Shown slightly significant restore the normal structure, small areas of epidermis formed of few layers were observed and some hair roots were grown, this well seen in case of T1 & T2. In conclusion, Shea butter brought as raw might have bad effect on burned skin. On the other hand, sample from Poland had therapeutic effect.

Key words: Keywords: Burn skin, Histopathology, Shea butter.