Experimental Investigation of the Effects of 'Nigella sativa' and 'Vitis vinifera' on Intraoral Wound Healing

This study aimed to experimentally investigate the effects of Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera oils on intraoral wound healing in rats through biochemical, histopathological, and histomorphometric evaluations.

Sixty male Wistar albino rats (4-6 months old) were divided into four groups: Control (C, n = 6), Saline (S, n = 18), Nigella sativa (Ns, n = 18), and Vitis vinifera (Vv, n = 18). A full-thickness circular wound of 3.5 mm was created in the palate. Treatments were administered daily via oral gavage until the day of sacrifice. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were measured from collected blood samples using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Full-thickness tissue samples (1 × 1 cm, including healthy tissue) underwent routine histological processing. The resulting intraoral photographs were used for digital wound area measurements.

In the experimental groups, cytokine levels in blood samples collected during the first week differed significantly compared with the control group. Significant differences in IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were observed among the subgroups on days 7, 14, and 21 (p 0.05). Histological evaluation showed a significant reduction in intraepithelial ulceration in the Ns and Vv groups (p 0.05), along with increased re-epithelialisation. Wound area measurements revealed significant differences between the Ns and Vv groups and the S group (p 0.05).

Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera support intraoral wound healing through modulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first experimental comparison of these two phytochemicals in an intraoral wound healing model.