The cumulative effect of ellagic acid and carnosic acid attenuates oxidative events during diabetic wound healing: in different applications and on different days.

Background/aim: The hyperglycemic environment in diabetes disrupts normal wound-healing processes, leading to chronic wounds. This study investigated whether the combination of the phenolic compounds ellagic acid and carnosic acid shows synergistic effects on diabetic wound healing and oxidative parameters in diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: Diabetic rats were divided into control, untreated, Carbopol 974P treated, topical treatment, and oral gavage treatment groups. Ellagic acid and carnosic acid in combination were applied topically and as oral gavage to the full-thickness excisional wounds of all animals except for those in the control group. We investigated oxidative events with malondialdehyde, glutathione, nitric oxide, protein carbonyl, collagen spectrophotometrically, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 and advanced oxidation protein product levels using ELISA.

Results: The combination of ellagic acid and carnosic acid decreased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, protein carbonyl, advanced oxidation protein product, and metalloproteinase 9 levels and increased the rate of wound contraction and collagen levels in the diabetic wound healing model.

Conclusion: The combined use of ellagic acid and carnosic acid showed a synergistic effect, enhanced wound healing, and decreased oxidative stress. This combination may provide effective therapy for chronic nonhealing wounds that occur as a complication of diabetes.