Evaluation of the Wound Healing Properties of Luteolin Ointments on Excision and Incision Wound Models in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Luteolin, which is structurally classified under the flavonoids, is naturally distributed abundant among medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits. The wound healing effects of Luteolin ointments were evaluated for incision and excision wound models on non-diabetic and Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats by using macroscopical, biomechanical, biochemical and histopathological methods. Two different concentrations (0.5 % and 1 % (w/w)) of the Luteolin ointment were prepared with the mixture of glycol stearate:propylene glycol:liquid paraffin (3:6:1) and 0.5 g of the ointments were applied topically on wounds once daily for 7 and 14 days. During the experiments, wounds were visually observed, photographically documented and wound areas were measured. After 7 and 14 days treatment, animals were sacrificed under anesthesia and hydroxyproline measurement and biomechanical analysis were performed. Histopathology of the wound area was evaluated considering features of re-epithelialization, thickness of the granulation tissue, angiogenesis, presence of inflammation, number of mast cells. Outcomes of this study revealed that Luteolin ointments improved wound healing process of skin tissue both in non-diabetic and diabetic wounds. The best wound healing activity was observed in incision and excision wounds (97.6 %, 96.1 %, respectively) treated with 0.5 % (w/w) Luteolin ointment on day 14 according to macroscopic results.