The Effect of Topical Administration of an Ointment Prepared From Trifolium repens Hydroethanolic Extract on the Acceleration of Excisional Cutaneous Wound Healing.

INTRODUCTION

Natural agents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are safer than synthetic agents and may improve wound healing.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the in vivo wound healing potential of an ointment prepared from Trifolium repens hydroethanolic extract (T repens) concerning excisional wounds in a rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-two adult Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: a control group and 3 groups of animals treated with 1.5% T repens, 3% T repens, and 6% T repens. A full-thickness wound with an area of 314 mm2 was created in each rat. To investigate the effect of T repens on wound healing, the wound area, histological analyses (eg, angiogenesis, fibroblast, fibrocyte, mast-cell distribution), intracytoplasmic carbohydrate storage, and B-cell lymphoma 2-like protein 4 (BAX), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and p53 gene expression in the wound tissue were evaluated for 21 days. Antioxidant activity was further measured by 2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-Di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays.

RESULTS

The animals in the treated groups showed higher wound contraction ratios (P ⟨ .05), angiogenesis, fibroblast, fibrocyte, and mast-cell distribution and intracytoplasmic carbohydrate storage compared with the control group (P ⟨ .05). Moreover, the topical administration of T repens increased the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level of Bcl-2 and reduced the BAX and p53 mRNA levels (P ⟨ .05). These findings further revealed the strong antioxidant activity of T repens.

CONCLUSIONS

The topical administration of T repens accelerated wound healing by increasing angiogenesis; fibroblast, fibrocyte, and mast-cell distribution; intracytoplasmic carbohydrate storage; and modulation in genes involved in apoptosis in a rat model.