References
The effects of Feijoa sellowiana fruit extract on wound healing in rats: a stereological and molecular study
Abstract
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing potential of Feijoa sellowiana fruit extract using stereological and molecular methods in experimental rat models.
Materials:
Male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups: non-treated, vehicle, Feijoa sellowiana fruit extract ointment (5% weight/weight) and the reference drug (madecassol). All animals were treated topically once per day. At the end of the study, wound samples were harvested for histological, stereological, immunohistochemical and molecular assessments to determine the in vivo healing potential and anti-inflammatory activity. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed for the characterisation of the phenolic acids in the extract.
Results:
The study included 64 rats in total. Our results showed that the wound closure, volume of new epidermis and dermis, density of fibroblasts and blood vessels, and the deposition of collagen were significantly higher in both extract and madecassol groups compared to the non-treated and vehicle groups, with superior healing in the extract group. The transcript for the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β gene was significantly upregulated in both extract and madecassol groups compared to non-treated and vehicle groups and was highest for the extract group. The density of inflammatory cells and expression levels of the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene in the extract and madecassol groups, especially in the extract group, were significantly reduced compared to non-treated and vehicle groups.
Conclusion:
Our results confirm that the Feijoa sellowiana fruit extract is a valuable source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and can allow for damaged tissue in wounds to recover markedly.
Wounds occur for various reasons, including surgery, physical, chemical and biological damage.1 They are divided into acute and hard-to-heal according to the type and duration of repair.2 In acute wounds, it is vital to maintain skin integrity and provide prompt treatment to prevent microbial contamination and dehydration, as well as to stop progressive inflammation.3
The wound healing process is complex and includes the inflammatory phase (presence of inflammatory cells at the site and secretion of inflammatory cytokines), proliferation (proliferation of local cells such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes to form granular tissue, and wound contraction) and the last stage is the remodelling phase.4,5 However, one of the most important challenges in the treatment of acute and hard-to-heal wounds is the control of inflammation.6 Prolonged inflammation by the abundant synthesis of factors such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-27 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α5 can disturb the balance between the synthesis and destruction of collagen, induce apoptosis in cells such as fibroblasts as well as prevent the wound from entering the proliferative phase.8 On the other hand, some cytokines, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, are important to the wound healing process as they play a key role in the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes and also promote the proliferative phase. Therefore, it should be possible to use a combination treatment that, in addition to being anti-inflammatory, can effectively cause the secretion of effective factors in wound healing from local cells.9,10
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