Investigation of the efficacy of aloe vera on incisional wound healing in experimental diabetic rats by MMP-1 and TIMP-1

Aim: To investigate healing aspect of aloe vera in diabetes mellitus that delay wound healing. Material and methods: An experimental model of streptozotosin induced diabetes was created in rats for the diabetes and diabetes+aloe vera groups. At end of experiment, blood was taken from the heart and rats were sacrificed. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry and statistical analysis were performed. Results: In histopathological analysis of diabetes groups, loss of epithelium and epithelial cells in epidermis, pycnotic nuclei; solitary dispersed leukocyte infiltration in dermal papilla, degenerated collagen fibers and increases in extracellular matrix were observed. In aloe vera group, epithelium and nucleus size were regular and close to sham group. Inflammed dermal papilla area was reduced, collagen fibers were arranged regularly and vascular dilatation decreased. In immunohistochemical staining of sham group, MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression was positive in epidermis and dermis, especially in areas where the extracellular matrix was dense, and in external membrane of hair follicle. In the diabetes group, weak MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression was observed in epidermis and cells in dermis. In aloe vera group, increased MMP-1 expression and keratinization were detected in surface epithelium. TIMP-1 expression was positive in most of cells in the epidermis. Conclusion: Due to anti-oxidative effect of aloe vera, restructuring of cells and development of extracellular matrix organization accelerates due to reduction of oxidative stress and effect of tightening skin begins to increase. Oral use of aloe vera took significant amount of time in our study, but topical application may be more successful in such studies.