Effects of Hypericum scabrum L. essential oil on wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to see if the essential oil of Hypericum scabrum L. (H. scabrum L.) has a protective and therapeutic effect on the wound in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Methods

In the study, 63 Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 250–300 g were divided into nine groups, each with seven rats (major groups: control group, diabetes group, and treatment group). For diabetes and treatment groups, streptozotocin (STZ) was given in a single dose of 60 mg/kg/i.p. In 7 days, the animals with diabetes (blood glucose level > 250 mg/dL) will be assigned to wound groups. All of the rats had circular full-thickness incisions in their dorsal skin caused by a 5 mm punch biopsy tool. The rats were slaughtered, blood was obtained, and their forwound tissues were dissected on the 3rd, 10th, and 14th post-wounding days. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in plasma and wound tissues, were all measured.

Results

While GSH level, GPx, SOD, and CAT activities were decreased in the plasma and wound tissues, MDA level increased in the diabetic group as compared to the control group. When compared to the diabetes group, GSH level, GPx, SOD, and CAT activities were increased in the H. scabrum L. essential oil treatments, but MDA levels were decreased. In comparison to the other groups, the wounds in the H. scabrum L. essential oil diabetic groups healed better and faster. H. scabrum L. essential oil can help to reduce lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and the associated complications that come with it, as well as play a beneficial role in the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Conclusion

Since no information was found in the literature search, future work would focus on new research examining H. scabrum L. essential oil applications to come up with new findings in determining the mechanisms of action of H. scabrum L. essential oil in diabetic wounds and preventing wound healing complications in diabetic rats.

Keywords:

• Antioxidant
• diabetes
• essential oil
• Hypericum scabrum L.
• wound

Acknowledgements

This study was obtained from the master's thesis of the first author. Manuscript conception and design, screening, data analyses, biochemical analysis by the second author. The third author contributed to the histopathological analysis. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by Atatürk University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (36643897–000-E0.1600016217–8).

Disclosure statement

The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.