Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Burn injuries are a significant clinical challenge due to excessive oxidative stress, inflammation and progressive tissue necrosis, leading to delayed healing and functional impairment. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) has been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrotic properties, making it a promising therapeutic agent for burn wound treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EP in promoting burn wound healing and preventing tissue necrosis. METHOD: Following the induction of thermal damage, 30 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of three distinct groups. The Test 1 group received EP 30 min, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h post-injury, and the Test 2 group was treated with a single dose of EP 30 min post-thermal injury. The control group received a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of an equivalent volume of normal saline solution (0.9%). On the 3rd and 21st days after the injury, five rats from each group were euthanized. Macroscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments were performed along with biochemical evaluations that included malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and HP measurements. RESULTS: The positive effects of EP on reducing and controlling oxidative stress, inflammation and death were achieved. Generally, inflammation control further preservation of the stasis zone and accelerated healing in the coagulation area were also proven. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that administering EP through injection can effectively halt the ongoing tissue necrosis in the stasis zone and significantly promote wound healing, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.