Passiflora edulis extract and the healing of abdominal wall of rats: morphological and tensiometric study

The Brazilian popular habit of using plants to treat several health conditions is ancient. Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is widely used to treat, usually in an empiric basis, a variety of medical conditions. Anti-inflammatory activity of Passiflora edulis extract, similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's), has been described. To evaluate the effect of Passiflora edulis hydroalcoholic extract on the healing of midline abdominal incisions in rats by morphological and tensiometric methods. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into two groups to either receive Passiflora edulis extract (study group, P) or saline (control group, C) intraperitoneally, in a single isovolumetric dose, after a standardized ventral midline laparotomy had been performed. The twenty rats of the control group as well as those twenty of the study group were divided into subgroups according to the time of sacrifice, either the 3rd PO day (P3, C3) or the 7th PO day (P7, C7). On day three and on day seven after surgery, the rats were sacrificed and the wound area was excised by a standardized protocol. The healing process of the specimens was evaluated macroscopically and histologically. The tensile strength was evaluated by a constant speed computerized tensiometer to determine the breaking strength and the deformation of the healing incision. The macroscopic examination did not show significant differences between study and control groups. Histologically, the C3 vs. P3 comparison showed the following differences: for the variables acute inflammation (p=0.045 in favor of C3), collagenization and capillary neoformation: p=0.001 e 0.001, respectively in favor of P3. Similarly, the C7 vs. P7 comparison showed the following differences for the variables acute inflammation (p=0.002 in favor of C7), chronic inflammation and capillary neoformation: p= 0.006 e 0.001, respectively in favor of P7. Tensiometrically, maximal breaking strength (C(máx)) on day seven of the study group was higher when compared to control group, (6.91 +/- 1.36 vs. 5.05 +/- 1.63, p=0.013). Maximal deformation strength (D(máx)) on day seven of the study group was higher when compared to control group (36.49 +/- 4.61 vs. 26.19 +/-5.74, p=0.001). Passiflora edulis extract enhances the healing of midline abdominal incisions in rats, especially the histological and tensiometric aspects.