Effects of resveratrol on incisional wound healing in rats.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on the healing process after midline laparotomy in rats. METHODS: The study was performed on adult female Wistar-Albino rats. The study group was orally administered 0.5 mg/kg resveratrol once a day for 7 days before the operation until 12 h before surgery and then the treatment was maintained throughout the study. Each rat was anesthetized, and a 4-cm midline laparotomy was performed. Ten animals in each group were sacrificed on postoperative days 7, and 14. A tensile strength analysis was performed, hydroxyproline levels were measured, and the abdominal incision wounds were examined histologically. RESULTS: Resveratrol administration significantly increased the tensile strength of the abdominal fascia, and increased the hydroxyproline levels on postoperative day 14. The acute inflammation scores, collagen deposition scores and the neovascularization scores on postoperative days 7 and 14 were found to be significantly higher in the resveratrol treatment group compared to the control group. The amount of granulation tissue and the fibroblast maturation scores were found to be significantly higher only on postoperative day 14 in the treatment group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that resveratrol may have a beneficial effect on incisional wound healing.