Investigation of wound healing effects of Calendula (Calendula officinalis) extract in mice

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of calendula flower extract on wound healing in BALB/c mice. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 male BALB/c mice, 6-8 weeks old, were divided into 3 study groups, each consisting of 24 mice: CAL (calendula flower extract), PBS (physiological saline solution), and NEGCON (no treatment). Four symmetric wounds were created on the dorsal area of the mice, and treatments were applied topically daily. Wound areas were measured using millimeter paper, and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 and wound tissues were collected for immunohistochemical, biochemical, and genomic analyses. Results: Statistically significant differences in wound areas were found between the study groups on days 3, 7, and 14. Intergroup differences in fibroblast counts were significant on days 3, 5, 7, and 14, while macrophage counts differed significantly on days 5, 7, and 14. In hydroxyproline levels, significant differences were found on days 3, 5, and 7. Significant differences in MDA and TAS levels were found on day 14, TOS and OSI levels on day 3, GPx levels on days 3 and 14, and FGF levels on days 7 and 14. MPO, IL-6, GM-CSF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels differed significantly on days 3, 5, 7, and 14, TNF-α levels on days 7 and 14, and IL-1 levels on days 3, 5, and 7. Statistically significant differences in MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression were observed on days 3, 5, 7, and 14. Conclusion: It has been concluded that the extract is an alternative treatment for wound healing based on planimetric, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and genomic findings.