[Effect of Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) extract on rats' bladder wound healing: morphological study]

To evaluate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora edulis leaves in the healing of urinary bladder in rats from histological aspects.

Forty Wistar male rats were submitted to a longitudinal incision of the bladder followed by a stetching in only one level. After this common procedure, animals were divided at random two groups: Passiflora and Control. In the Passiflora group the only dosage used was administered by intraperitoneal injection of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora edulis leaves while in the Control group distilled water was injected. Each subgroup was then divided in two subgroups according to the death of these animals: Control, three and seven days, Passiflora, three and seven days. After the death of these animals, an inventory of the abdominal cavity was performed and the bladder was removed. A comparative analysis was done between the two groups with microscopic evaluation of the healing. There was less acute inflammation (p=0.008), greater collagenous formation (p=0.001) and greater capillary neo-formation (p=0.000) in the third day Passiflora subgroup when compared to the Control subgroup of the third day.

There was less acute inflammation (p=0.001), greater fibroblastic proliferation (p=0.011) and greater collagenous formation (p=0.001) in the Passiflora subgroup of seventh day when compared with the Control seventh day subgroup.

The use of Passiflora edulis leaves extract resulted in less acute inflammation, greater fibroblastic proliferation, collagenous formation and capillary neo-formation on rats' bladder wound healing.