Genistein aglycone improves skin repair in an incisional model of wound healing: a comparison with raloxifene and oestradiol in ovariectomized rats.
OBJECTIVE
Oestrogen loss at menopause is frequently related to poor wound healing. Genistein has been tested in anti-ageing cosmetic preparations with interesting results on skin health. Here, we investigated the effects of the genistein aglycones, given systemically, in an incisional model of wound healing, compared to systemic oestradiol and raloxifene.


METHODS
Six months after ovariectomy (OVX), rats were randomly assigned to groups of 12 animals each and treated daily with genistein aglycone (1 and 10 mg kg(-1) s.c.), raloxifene hydrochloride (0.05 and 0.5 mg kg(-1) s.c.) or 17-alpha-ethinyl oestradiol (0.003 and 0.03 mg kg(-1) s.c.) for 12 weeks. Untreated OVX and sham OVX rats were used as controls. Then, 14 or 7 days before the end of the experiment, an incisional wound healing procedure was performed and skin specimens were collected to evaluate molecular, histological and functional measurements.


RESULTS
Seven and fourteen days after wounding, samples from OVX rats showed a decrease in transforming growth factor-beta1, tissue transglutaminase 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor compared to samples from sham OVX rats. Oestradiol, raloxifene and genistein all significantly modified this decrease, but the lowest genistein dose exerted a greater effect than the other treatments. Moreover, the lowest dose of genistein was the most effective in improving skin healing and wound tensile strength.


CONCLUSIONS
Genistein aglycone might be an alternative therapy for the management of skin wound healing.
Marini
H
H
Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Polito
F
F
Altavilla
D
D
Irrera
N
N
Minutoli
L
L
Calò
M
M
Adamo
E B
EB
Vaccaro
M
M
Squadrito
F
F
Bitto
A
A
D000818:Animals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019833:Genistein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D048789:Phytoestrogens; C000717609:Tgm2 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D019833:Genistein; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins