EFFECT OF PROPOLIS ON WOUND HEALING: A CLINICAL AND HISTOMORPHOMETRIC STUDY IN RATS

Abstract

Background: Propolis is known to have antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, immunostimulant and local anesthetic effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical and histomorphometric effects of propolis on the healing of excisional palatal wounds in rats. Materials and methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were used for the study. Six animals were sacrificed at beginning of the study as initial wound (0 day). The rats were divided into three groups: Propolis (P), Chlorhexidine (CHX) and Control (C). Subjects in all three groups were randomly selected to form nine subgroups of six rats each. Under anesthesia, circular excision wounds with a diameter of 3 mm were formed in the middle of the palate of the rats by punching. The mucoperiosteal part was removed with sharp dissection, and the area on the open bone surface was left to heal the secondary wound. Propolis was administered locally at a rate of 1 ml/day. The rats were sacrificed on days 7, 14, and 21, and pictures of the wound area were taken. Each photograph was transferred to a dedicated program to measure the defect area. Histological sections were taken and the presence of inflammatory cells, epithelialization, and degree of healing were assessed. Results: The average wound area between epithelial margins decreased significantly over time in all groups (p