The Angiogenetic Effect of Resveratrol on Dermal Wound Healing in Balb/C Mice

Abstract

Background: Angiogenesis has a basic role in wound healing. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered as the most efficient signal that stimulates angiogenesis in wounds. Resveratrol as a natural polyphenol has enigmatic effects on VEGF-expression, angiogenesis, and granulation. Thus, the current study investigated resveratrol effects on these factors during wound healing in BALB/c mice. Methods: Sixty male BALB/c mice (2.5-month-old) were divided into 5 groups (each group n = 12). A full dermis thickness incision was placed on the dorsal skin. The study groups were topically administered 0.05% and 0.1% resveratrol, while the control groups were treated with nitrofurazone 0.2% cream (positive control), eucerine (negative control) or no treatment (sham group) twice per day for 14 days post wounding. Three animals of each group were sacrificed after anesthetizing on the post-operative days of 4, 7, 10, and 14. Therefore, the incision wounds were examined histologically and immunohistochemically using ImageJ software. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Comparisons among multiple groups were performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data were analyzed with SPSS version 24. Results: Compared with the control and sham groups, resveratrol administration increased VEGF-expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Results of the current study also revealed that higher granulation at wound tissue due to high VEGF expression accelerated wound healing. The mean of granulation in resveratrol-treated group was significantly higher than those of the control groups. Conclusions: The current study findings showed that resveratrol had positive effect on VEGF-expression and granulation in wound healing.