Investigation of the effect of Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera use on intraoral wound healing

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the biochemical, histopathological, and histomorphometric effects of applying Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera to intraoral wounds in rats on healing. Material and method: 60 Wistar albino rats were used in the study. The rats were divided into four main groups: one control group of 6 animals and 3 experimental groups of 18 animals. The three groups in which the wound model was created were further divided into 3 subgroups based on the days of sacrifice, which were days 7, 14, and 21. A 3.5 mm diameter full-thickness circular mucosal defect was created in the palatal region. The rats were treated daily until the day of sacrifice. Biochemical analyses were obtained using ELISA from blood samples taken before sacrifice. Full-thickness samples, including the secondary wound area and 1x1 cm intact tissue, were taken from the subjects' oral cavity. Photographs taken after sacrifice were used for digital wound area measurements. Results: Cytokine levels in blood samples taken during the first week of the experimental group compared to the control group showed a significant change (p<0.05). Histological evaluation revealed a significant decrease in intraepithelial ulcers in the NS and VV groups (p<0.05). Similarly, increased re-epithelialization was observed in these groups. Differences in fibroblast proliferation, inflammation, vascularization, fibrosis, and mast cell density were significant between the groups (p<0.05). Wound areas were significantly different in the NS and VV-treated groups compared to the saline-treated group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera promote intraoral wound healing by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines in the postoperative period. This supports the potential of these plants as complementary therapies in periodontal surgery, and further comparative studies are needed for clinical applications.