Freshwater clam extract supplementation improves wound healing by decreasing the tumor necrosis factor α level in blood.
BACKGROUND
The freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) is a widely consumed functional food in Asia and is traditionally used to improve health and either prevent or treat inflammation-related diseases. Numerous studies have proposed that freshwater clams act to prevent and attenuate inflammatory responses, and also serve as a possible inhibitor to systemic inflammation. However, there is limited information available about the effects of freshwater clams on wound healing.


RESULTS
The present study investigated the influence of freshwater clam extract (FCE) on wound healing and inflammatory responses in a cutaneous incision model. Sixteen rats were used and divided into two groups: the FCE group and the normal saline (NS) group. The rats underwent dorsal full-thickness skin excisional wounds (diameter 20 × 10 mm). FCE or NS was administered for oral feeding twice daily for 14 days after wounding. Blood samples were taken and analyzed, and wound areas were measured at several time points during the 2 weeks after excision. On day 14 after wounding, skin biopsies from the wound sites were sent for histological examination. Treatment with FCE (71.63 ± 9.51 pg mL-1) decreased tumor necrosis factor-α levels compared to the NS group (109.86 ± 12.55 pg mL-1) after wounding at 3 h (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of white blood cells, interleukin (IL)-6, or IL-10. The wound areas of the NS group (23.9%) were larger than those in the FCE group (8.26%) on day 14 (P < 0.05). Numerous fibroblasts and collagen fiber organization were observed in the FCE group.


CONCLUSIONS
FCE supplementation improves the wound healing process. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.|Department of Nursing, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taichung, 40343, Taiwan.
Yi-Chi
YC
Peng
Intensive Care Unit, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, 23142, Taiwan.|School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.
Fwu-LinYang
Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.
Yi-Maun
YM
Subeq
Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.|Department of Nursing, Hsin Sheng College of Medical Care and Management, Taoyuan, 32544, Taiwan.
Chin-Chieh
CC
Tien
Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 97004, Taiwan.
Ru-Ping
RP
Lee
D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049872:Bivalvia; D049874:Corbicula / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005618:Fresh Water; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012758:Shellfish; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology
D001688:Biological Products; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Corbicula fluminea; freshwater clam; functional foods; wound healing