The effect of topical application of argan oil on secondary wound healing

Muhammed Enes MARAS, The Effect of Topical Application of Argan Oil on Secondary Wound Healing Baskent University Institute of Health Sciences Periodontology Doctorate Program, PhD Thesis, 2023 Objective: To evaluate the effects of topically applied argan oil on the secondary healing of experimentally created excisional wounds in rats. Material and Method: Excisional wounds with a diameter of 5 mm were created on the palates of 63 Sprague-Dawley albino rats. Seven rats were sacrificed at the beginning of the study. The remaining fifty-six rats were randomly divided into two equal groups; 1) a test group in which 1 ml of topical argan oil was applied twice daily and 2) a control group in which nothing was applied. Seven animals from each group were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14, and 21, and samples obtained from the rats were photographed for macroscopic measurements and then transferred to boxes containing 10% formaldehyde for histological examination. While histologically examining the wound width, ulceration, re-epithelialization, inflammation, and fibrosis, immunohistochemical examinations for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), laminin, and leptin were performed semi-quantitatively by an experienced. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the groups for any parameter (p>0.0125). In intra-group examinations, statistically significant differences were detected in macroscopic wound surface areas, wound width, ulceration, inflammation, and fibrosis scores at different sacrification times in both experimental and control groups compared to day 0 (p<0.00625). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, no positive effect of topical application of argan oil at a dose of 1 ml was observed on secondary healing of wounds created on the palates of rats. The similar healing patterns of wounds in experimental and control groups showed that argan oil did not have a negative effect on wound healing in oral tissues. Keywords: Argan oil, herbal oil, hard palate, rat, wound healing This thesis study was approved by Başkent University Medical and Health Sciences Research Board. (Project no: D-DA 21/03).