title: Effects of epicatechin gallate on wound healing and scar formation in a full thickness incisional wound healing model in rats.
abstract: Catechins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds with putative anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and free radical scavenging effects in vitro. However, their potential effects in vivo have not been established. Therefore we have investigated the effects of the catechin epicatechin gallate (ECG), on scar formation in a full thickness incisional model of wound healing in rats. ECG showed a significant improvement in the quality of scar formation both in terms of maturity and orientation of the collagen fibers. An increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 and a decrease in arginase-I activity and protein levels were observed at earlier time points. In addition, an increase in the number of new blood vessels was observed in the ECG-treated group. This correlated with the protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, the most potent angiogenic protein known. This study has therefore demonstrated, for the first time, that catechins, namely ECG, can significantly improve the quality of wound healing and scar formation. These effects may in part be due to an acceleration of the angiogenic response and an up-regulation of the enzymes nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Rowena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Appleton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D009573:Nitrites; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002392:Catechin; C062669:epicatechin gallate; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D001119:Arginase