Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Clin Exp Dermatol. 2009 Oct;34(7):815-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.03117.x. Epub 2009 Mar 23.
Momordica charantia (MC; bitter gourd) is a traditional herb commonly used for its antidiabetic, antioxidant, contraceptive and antibacterial properties. It is also used for the rapid healing of wounds.
To observe the topical effect of MC extract on the wound-healing process in rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin.
In total, 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. The animals were subdivided into two groups: a nondiabetic group (n = 36) and a group with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (n = 36). Both groups were subdivided further into a nontreated control group (n = 18), and a topically treated group with MC extract administered daily (n = 18). The wound was inflicted with a 6-mm punch-biopsy needle on the dorsal aspect of the thoracolumbar region. The animals were killed on the days 1, 5 and 10 after wound creation. The rate of wound closure and the total protein content was estimated. Histological study of the wound tissue at days 5 and 10 was also performed.
The diabetic group exhibited delayed wound healing as compared to the normal group. Interestingly, the diabetic group treated with topical MC extract showed better results than the nontreated group.
Results show that administration of MC extract improves and accelerates the process of wound healing in diabetic animals.
苦瓜（MC）是一种传统草药，常用于治疗糖尿病、抗氧化、避孕和抗菌。苦瓜也可用于加速伤口愈合。
观察苦瓜提取物对链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病大鼠伤口愈合过程的局部作用。
本研究共使用 72 只 Sprague-Dawley 大鼠。这些动物被分为两组：非糖尿病组（n = 36）和链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病组（n = 36）。两组进一步分为未治疗对照组（n = 18）和每日局部给予苦瓜提取物治疗组（n = 18）。在胸腰椎背部用 6mm 打孔活检针造成伤口。在造口后第 1、5 和 10 天处死动物。评估伤口闭合率和总蛋白含量。还在第 5 和 10 天对伤口组织进行了组织学研究。
与正常组相比，糖尿病组的伤口愈合明显延迟。有趣的是，局部给予苦瓜提取物的糖尿病组比未治疗组的效果更好。
结果表明，苦瓜提取物的给药可改善和加速糖尿病动物的伤口愈合过程。
