Ecballium elaterium extract reduces fibrosis during wound healing in rats

Abstract

We explored the effects of subcutaneously injected Ecballium elaterium (L) A. Rich. (EE) extract on skin wound-healing in rats, as well as the effects on the liver and pancreas. Twenty-eight rats were divided into two groups of 14 each: a saline control group (S) and an EE group. Both groups were divided into two subgroups according to the day of sacrifice (S-7 and S-14, and EE-7 and EE-14). All animals received 2.5 cm skin incisions followed by subcutaneous injections of either saline or 2.5 mg/kg EE per margin (5 mg/kg in total). The S and EE groups were compared in terms of the severity and type of local and neighbouring inflammation, vascularization, fibrosis and effects on the liver and pancreas. In addition, apoptosis and vascularity between S and EE groups were compared immunohistochemically with caspase-3 and cd-34 antibodies. There was no significant difference between the staining rates of caspase-3 and cd-34 in the immunohistochemical assay between the S and E groups. Subcutaneous EE was not toxic to the pancreas or liver; the EE-14 group exhibited less fibrosis than the S-14 group. Therefore, it can contribute to the proper closure of the lesion by reducing fibrosis during wound healing.