Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Impacts of Soft Tissue Crude Extract and Mucous of Snail Helix aspersa on an Excision Wound Model in Mice

Wound healing is a complex natural process in which tissue requires recovering injured tissue cells. Helix aspersa has a high nutritional value and is considered a rich natural source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. So, this study aimed to assess the effect of soft tissue crude extract and mucous of H. aspersa topically applied as a gel for 12 days. The wounds were observed and photographed twice a week. The inflammatory, oxidative stress markers and matrix metalloproteinases were evaluated in skin tissue homogenate and CD3 and CD69 T lymphocytes were detected in wound tissue. Data showed that a comparison of applying soft tissue crude extract and mucous of H. aspersa to skin wounds enhanced the healing process, resulting in a significant decrease in dermal inflammation compared to untreated mice. Also, they significantly increased the antioxidant enzyme activities with reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in wound tissues. The levels of matrix metalloproteases-2 and -9 were significantly decreased and the immune status was enhanced in the wound environment by increasing proportions of CD3 and CD69 T lymphocytes. H. aspersa mucous and soft tissue crude extract are viable substitutes for synthetic topical wound therapies with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory potencies, with a preference for the crude soft tissue extract based on the outcomes.