Investigation of the healing effectiveness of pine resin in experimentally induced corneal wound in rats

Abstract

Pine resin is a product obtained from plants belonging to the Pinaceae family and traditionally used in the treatment of wounds. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of pine resin in corneal wounds. In this study, three groups of 7 male Wistar Albino rats (n=7), each 2 months old, were established. To create the corneal wound model, the rats were anesthetized and the borders of the wound to be created on the corneal surface were determined using a 3 mm punch biopsy, then the first two layers of the cornea were removed with a corneal knife. Then, the first group was considered as the control group and no treatment was performed. The second group was determined as the pine resin group and applied once a day. The third group was considered as the drug group and was administered once a day. Fluorescein staining was performed every day for three days and the results were recorded. Pine resin group showed the fastest recovery. On the third day, the rats were euthanized, and their eyes were enucleated. The collected eyes were sent for histopathologic examination and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The lesions in the examined specimens were evaluated under microscope for hyperemia, vascularization, cellular infiltration, and corneal edema. As a result of the study, ulceration was observed in the pine resin group. The study concluded that pine resin reduces clinical symptoms and promotes healing in corneal wounds.