Caffeic acid phenethyl ester accelerates cutaneous wound healing in a rat model and decreases oxidative stress.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous injury causes a depression in antioxidant status, as reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in response to injury.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, on wound healing in rats.


METHODS
In total, 40 male rats were divided into two groups: one group treated with CAPE (n = 20) and a second untreated control group (n = 20). A linear full-thickness incision was performed on the back of each rat and sutured. After incision, CAPE was given to the treatment group and saline to the control group. On days 1, 3, 7 and 14, five animals in each group were killed, and wound tissues dissected for biochemical and histopathological analysis.


RESULTS
Wound tissues showed a significant increase in glutathione and nitric oxide levels, and a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase levels in the CAPE group compared with the control group. Histopathology of the wound tissues displayed rapid epithelium development in the CAPE group compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated that CAPE partly accelerates full-thickness wound healing by its antioxidant and ROS-scavenging capabilities.
Serarslan
G
G
Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey. gserarslan@hotmail.com
Altuğ
E
E
Kontas
T
T
Atik
E
E
Avci
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C055494:caffeic acid phenethyl ester; D005978:Glutathione; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol