Silymarin promotes wound healing through regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition in rat model: Histopathological and immunohistochemical evidences

Abstract

Abstract The wound is the disruption of the normal structure, integrity, and function of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. It is known that current wound management strategies applied in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds both cause an increase in health costs and do not achieve the desired level of success. Therefore, more effective and easily applicable treatment methods are needed. However, the therapeutic effects of Silymarin (SM) on wound healing are still unknown. In this study, the effects of SM were investigated by comparing it with dexpanthenol (Dxp), whose favorable effects on wound healing are known. Sham, Dxp, and SM groups were formed and the effects of the drugs were investigated immunohistochemically on the 5th, 10th, and 15th days in rats. Based on histological and immunohistochemical results, SM and Dxp enhanced epithelialization and reduced inflammation more than the sham group. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the effects on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition between SM and Dxp. Results indicated that SM is a useful therapeutic agent at least as much as Dxp in wound healing. The wound re-epithelization and anti-inflammatory effects of SM may be a new approach to the treatment of wound healing.