Dose regulated cutaneous wound healing potential of quercetin in male rats

Quercetin has role in angiogenesis and proliferation of epithelial cells and fibroblasts. So, it was hypothesized that exogenous application of quercetin could be beneficial in wound healing. In present study, experimentally-wounded male rats were equally divided into four groups. Quercetin as a 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0% concentration (w/v) solution was topically applied on the wounds of group 2, 3 and 4, respectively, once daily for 16 days. However, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 75%) alone was applied topically in group 1. Gross evaluation of wound revealed that topical application of 0.1% quercetin caused fastest wound closure, as compared to other treatments in our study. The reduction in wound area and increased wound contraction were fastest in 0.1% quercetin group during the entire study. Histopathologically, the granulation tissue was of better quality and showed appropriate proliferation of fibroblasts in 0.1% quercetin-treated group in comparison to other groups. There was significant collagen deposition, which was better arranged and compacted in 0.1% quercetin-treated group. The 0.1% quercetin-treated group also showed regenerated epithelium layer, which was lacking in other groups. Histological score was significantly higher in 0.1% quercetin-treated group, as compared to DMSO and 10% quercetin-treated groups. Overall, there were no significant differences between the different treatment groups for the values of superoxide dismutase, total thiols, superoxide anion radicals, malondialdehyde levels and total proteins. Only the catalase value was significantly decreased in DMSO-treated group, as compared to 0.1% quercetin treated group. In conclusion, quercetin at 0.1% concentration has pronounced pro-healing potential in male rats.