The effect of propolis and moringa oleifera oil on the healing of experimental full-thickness skin wounds in rats

This study was carried out to determine the curing effect of Propolis and Moringa oleifera oil on the full thickness skin wounds at macroscopic, histopathological and molecular level. For the study 42 female Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were divided into three groups each containing 14 rats. Each groups were divided in to two subgroups containing 7 rats. On each rat two full thickness open skin wounds of 0.5 cm diameters were formed at two sides of dorsal median line. At the postoperative period the wounds of the first group was treated with a liquid extract of propolis, while a cold press Moring oleifera olil was applied in the the second group. The control group was treated with a cold cream. The rats were sacrificed on postoperative7th and 14th days and samples from the wounded area of skin including the intact parts for histopathologic and mRNA analysis. For biochemical analyses bloodsamples were collected. With respect to wound area, differences among groups were found statistically significant. Multiple comparisons between groups indicated that wound area in PO and MO groups were significantly lower than that in control group while the diffrence between PO and MO groups was not significant. With respect to inflammatory cell infiltration of the groups on 7th day was in the order from lower to higher as control, PO and MO. Control group showed a lower growth rate of loose fibroblastic conntective tissue was than in PO and MO groups. Vascular proliferation within the wound area was the highest in MO and lowest in control group. Inflammatory cell infiltration on the 14th day in MO and PO was as low as abscent while in control group it was lower than that on 7th day. An appearent increase in vascular proliferation was visible in all three groups in the order from lower to higher as MO, PO and control. Epithelization was completed in all individuals of MO and PO groups while there were still animals in control group where epithelization was not completed. The tickness of epithel layer in MO group was higher than that in PO group. Significant differences with respect to mRNA expression of TNFα and BAX genes were observed while the differences for BCL-2 gene was not significant. Treatment with propolis resulted in the highest increase in the expression of TNFα and BCL-2 genes. The findings of this study indicated that application of PO and MO oil had a positive effect on wound healing, by enhancing fibroblastic activity and vascular proliferation as well as by shortening the epithelization process which results in a rapid, effective and safe wound healing.