Silymarin enhanced fibroblast proliferation and tissue regeneration in full thickness skin wounds in rat models; a stereological study

IntroductionSilymarin (SM), was reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and has been suggested as a positively effective agent on skin tissue regeneration and wound healing. In this study we aimed to determine the effect of topical administration of SM on stereological parameters of the wound healing process in rats.Material and methodsThirty six Wistar rats, with a 1 cm2 full-thickness wound created on the posterior of their neck, were divided into three groups; the control group which received no treatment; the SM-treated group that received 2% SM-gel, and the gel-base treated group. At the end, full thickness skin samples from the wound site were obtained to determine volume density of collagen bundles, vessels, and hair follicles as well as fibroblast population, length density, vessel’s mean diameter, and wound closure rates by using unbiased stereological methods.ResultSM increased fibroblast proliferation, collagen bundle synthesis, hair follicle population and consequently wound closure in comparison to the gel-base and the control groups (P < 0.05) according to stereological parameters of the skin. Angiogenesis was also intensified in the SM-treated group although it was not statistically significant.ConclusionResults of this stereological study indicated that SM possesses positive impact on the process of wound healing.