Abstract
The study investigated the wound healing potential of Piascledine (an avocado/soybean mixture) alone and in combination with bacterial nanocellulose on rat cutaneous wounds. Full-thickness excisional wounds (2 cm in diameter) were induced on the backs of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups, treated with daily topical application of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), Piascledine 10% (PSD 10%) and Piascledine+bacterial nanocellulose (PSD + BNC) (10 mg/disk) and normal saline (control) for 20 days. Wounds were monitored daily, and at 10, 20 and 30 days post-injury (DPI), tissue samples were collected for biochemical, histopathological and molecular analyses. Treated rats with PSD and PSD + BNC showed a significant decrease in the wound area compared with other groups. PSD and particularly PSD + BNC modulated inflammation, improved fibroplasia and angiogenesis and scar tissue formation at short term. At the long term, they reduced the scar tissue size and improved collagen fibres alignment, tissue organization and remodelling as well as re-epithelialization. PSD enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) gene expression, collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) synthesis and decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) gene expression at various stages of wound healing. The study concluded that topical application of Piascledine, particularly in combination with bacterial nanocellulose, promotes wound healing activity by modulating inflammation, regulating MMP-3 expression and enhancing collagen and GAGs synthesis.