Tissue extract from Eisenia foetida as a wound-healing agent

M. Mataušic-Pišl 2, H. Cupic 3, V. Kašuba 2, A.-M. Mikecin 1, M. Grdiša 1*

1 Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb (Croatia) 2 Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb (Croatia) 3 Division of Pathology “Ljudevit Jurak”, Clinical Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb (Croatia)

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• Pharmacology

Abstract. – Background and Objectives: This study was aimed at demonstrating the influence of Eisenia foetida earthworm extract (G-90) on wound healing in an animal model. Medicinal properties of earthworms have been long known, especially in Eastern countries.
Materials and Methods: Four groups of Wister rats (36 in each group) were wounded under anaesthesia; the skin was surgically incised in a circular manner (the circular incision in reference measuring 2 cm in diameter) and afterwards daily treated for 24 days in a following manner: Group 0 – the control group deprived from any treatment whatsoever; Group 1 – treated with physiological saline solution; Group 2 – treated with Panthenol D and serving as a positive control, and Group 3 – treated with G-90 (10 ng/ml). The animals were sacrificed on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 post wounding and the diameter of wound was measured by virtue of photometric method. The excised wounds were routinely fixed and embedded into paraffin section and dully stained for histopathological analysis. The presence of microorganisms on the wounds was assessed as well.
Results: The best antibacterial wound shielding was achieved with G-90 treatment. Besides antibacterial shielding, the wounds treated with G-90 were also protected from inflammation. G-90 was shown to shorten the inflammatory, and accelerate the proliferative and the maturation phase, stimulating thereby the regeneration of an injured epidermis. Statistical analysis revealed G-90 (p=0.018) to be superior over other treatments.
Conclusions: Thus, Eisenia foetida earthworm extract (G90) might be considered as a new wound-healing agent suitable for use in both veterinary and human medicine practice.

Corresponding Author: Mira Grdisa, PhD; e-mail: grdisa@irb.hr

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