Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
In Vitro Model of Human Cutaneous Hypertrophic Scarring using Macromolecular Crowding
Published on: May 1, 2020
Catechin Hydrate Improves Hypertrophic Scar in Rabbit Ear Model via Reduction of Collagen Synthesis
Sina Goudarzi Afshar1, Pari Tamri1, Alireza Nourian2
1Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Background:
Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a cutaneous condition results from abnormal wound healing following deep tissue injury. To date, there is no optimal treatment for this skin disorder. Catechins possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic properties. In this study we investigated the effects of catechin hydrate (CH) in rabbit ear model of HS.
Methods:
A rabbit ear model of hypertrophic scar was set up. Ten New Zealand white rabbit were divided into 5 equal groups: non-treatment group, vehicle control, treated with intralesional injection of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and test groups, received intralesional injection of CH/DMSO solution at concentration of 0.25, 1.25 and, 2.5 mg/ml, respectively. The treatments were initiated 35 days after wounding once a week for 4 weeks. The scar elevation index (SEI) and the epidermal thickness index (ETI) were measured using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) staining and the amount of collagen deposition were determined after Masson' trichrome staining. In addition, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine the levels of type І and ІІІ collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) in scar tissues.
Results:
CH improved abnormal scarring at concentrations of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml and significantly (P<0.001) reduced the SEI and ETI. The levels of collagen type І and type ІІІ, and total collagen deposition were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in scar tissues of CH treated groups and no significant effect on MMP1 levels.
Conclusions:
Our findings demonstrated that CH has the potential for the treatment of HSs.
