Topical co-administration of Pistacia atlantica hull and Quercus infectoria gall hydroethanolic extract improves wound-healing process

Abstract

Pistacia atlantica hulls and Quercus infectoria galls have been used in traditional medicine for treatment of many disorders. In the current study, excision wound model was used for the assessment of wound-healing activity of topical co-administration of hydroethanolic extracts of Pistacia atlantica hulls (P. atlantica) and Quercus infectoria galls (Q. infectoria) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Four groups of diabetic mouse model were used; control group (received soft yellow paraffin), treated groups P. atlantica 5%; Q. infectoria 5% and Q. infectoria 5% + P. atlantica 5% mixed soft yellow paraffin. Two circular, full-thickness skin wounds with 5 mm diameter were created on the back of each of the mice. During the healing time, wound rate was measured and wound sample was obtained at the end of days 3, 7, and 14 for histopathological evaluation. Moreover, immunohistochemistry staining for GLUT-1 and GPC3 was done. According to the results, topical application of each hydroethanolic extract of pistachio and quercus extract alone and co-administrated together cause improved wound-healing activity in diabetic mice via decrease in inflammation phases with decrease of edema and immune cell migration scores, and proliferation stage with increase in new vessels formation, fibroblast infiltration, collagen synthesis scores, and GLUT-1- and GPC3-positive cells in diabetic mice. These results suggest that the topical application of P. atlantica hulls and Q. infectoria galls hydroethanolic extracts has beneficial effect on full-thickness wound-healing activity in diabetic mice and it might be useful for treating various types of chronic wounds.