Effects of topical nicotinamide and acetyl cysteine in chronic wound healing model

Abstract

Purpose: Wound healing is a well-organized reparation process that develops after an operation or trauma. Healing process can be disturbed due to various factors. Decreased blood supply and subsequent hypoxia are some main factors. This interrupted process can frequently happen during diabetes and, decubitus and venous ulcers. In this study we aimed to observe the effects of nicotinamide and acetyl cysteine over chronic wound healing in topical applications.

Patients and Methods: Forty five Sprague-Dawley male rats are used in this study. Control, acetyl cysteine and nicotinamid groups are divided into three sub groups, as wound tissues to be obtained in 3rd, 5th and 8th days. A 6 mm punch biopsy was performed under anesthesia, to create a total of 6 excisional skin wounds on the bipedicular flaps at the dorsal side of each animal. On these ischemic skin wounds 50 mg/kg acetyl cysteine and 100 mg/kg nicotinamide was applied b.i.d. for 7 days. At 3rd, 5th and 8th days, the degree of healing was assessed by wounds' surface area measurements and histopathological evaluation.

Results: In the histopathological assessments performed in 3rd, 5th and 8th days, it is found that the groups in which nicotinamide and acetyl cysteine were applied had less inflammatory cell numbers but more fibroblasts and collagen synthesis, in comparison to the control groups. Similar to the histopathological findings, a significant decrease was observed in the wounds' surface areas measured on a daily basis.

Conclusion: We demonstrated in this study that nicotinamide and acetyl cysteine molecules which are known to be effective antioxidants affect the chronic wound model positively and accelerate the recovery process.