Chronic, unhealed
diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most severe
complications of diabetes mellitus (DM).
Naringin, a
flavanone glycoside antioxidant, was reported to have
antidiabetic and anti-apoptotic properties. In the present study DM was induced experimentally by
streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg, i.p.). In surgically introduced
wounds on the dorsal surface of the hind paw of rats, the healing potential of
naringin was investigated. Rats were treated with
naringin (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, p.o.),
insulin (10 IU/kg, s.c.) and
tetrachlorodecaoxide (
TCDO) (1 drop, twice a day, topically) for 16 days. The
wound area was measured every second day, and on day 17 various biochemical parameters were determined in serum,
wound tissue, and histopathological examination of the
wound was performed.
Naringin (40 and 80 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) improved
wound area, serum
glucose level, glycated Hb and serum
insulin.
Naringin treatment at 40 and 80 mg/kg resulted in significant (P<0.05) up-regulation of
mRNA expression of
growth factor (IFG-1, TGF-β and VEGF-c), Ang-1 and collagen-1 whereas
mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) was down-regulated. Furthermore,
naringin significantly (P<0.05) attenuated STZ-induced apoptosis and stimulated angiogenesis in the
wound tissue. Further results suggest that angiogenesis was improved via
naringin-mediated inhibition of
hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, down-regulation of inflammatory mediator expression and up-regulation of
growth factor expression, leading to improved wound healing of DFU.