Examination of the effect of pomegranate (Momordica charantia) on the wound healing process

Wounds are the loss of normal state of tissues, organs or organisms that occur as a result of some trauma or damage by various agents. The healing phase of wounds is a biological process involving many systems, in which cellular, biochemical and physiological events take part. Many biological agents and systems are involved in biological processes. It is important that the injured area returns to its original state as closely as possible during the healing process and that the process occurs quickly. Momordica charantia extract may affect the process. The product is often used by local people in tropical regions to treat numerous diseases, including wound healing. In this study, the effect of M. charantia plant extract on the wound healing process was investigated using the mouse fibroblast cell line (3T3-L1). The compound's EC25 and EC50 doses on the 3T3-L1 cell line were determined to be 1,43 mg/ml and 3,82 mg/ml, respectively. The M. charantia plant extract was applied to the cells at the specified doses, and total RNA was isolated from the cells. The qRT-PCR analysis was performed for each gene. Analysis of the effect of the compound on the expression level of KGF-1, COL1 and EGFR was performed. For the EGFR gene among these genes, 5,32 fold increase in mRNA expression levels was observed in M. charantia plant extract at the EC25 (1,43 mg/ml) dose, while 7,15 fold increase was seen at the EC50 (3,82 mg/ml) dose. When mRNA expression levels were analyzed in M. charantia plant extract for KGF 1, another gene related to wound healing, a 1.75-fold increase was observed at the EC25 (1,43 mg/ml) dose. In the continuation of the analysis, a 3,09 fold increase was observed in the EC50 (3,82 mg/ml) dose for the KGF-1 gene. Analyzes for another gene, COL-1, showed 1,89 fold increase in the EC25 (1,43 mg/ml) dose. For the same gene, 5,22 fold increase was seen at the EC50 (3,82 mg/ml) dose. Cell migration was assessed using a scratch wound assay, and the percentage changes in the wound area were analyzed. As a result of the data obtained and the studies carried out with the 3T3-L1 cell line, we can say that M. charantia plant extract can contribute to wound healing. In times to come, animal studies could provide more precise insights into the mechanism by which M. charantia plant extract influences wound healing.