Abstract

Wounds impose significant social and financial burdens, and effective healing requires regulation of growth factors and cytokines. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) accelerates proliferation, angiogenesis, and tissue repair, whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) negatively affects the healing process. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum) extract cream on FGF and IFN-gamma levels in excision wound model rats. A true experimental design with post-test only control groups was conducted using 48 Wistar rats divided into 12 groups, with evaluations on days 3 and 7. Treatments included base cream, Bioplacenton, and pomegranate extract creams at 10% and 20% concentrations. FGF and IFN-gamma. levels were measured by ELISA and analyzed with Kruskal–Wallis and one-way ANOVA. The results showed significantly higher FGF levels in the 20% pomegranate extract group compared to controls on both day 3 (1353.42 pg/mL, p=0.000) and day 7 (1565.00 pg/mL, p=0.000), while IFN-gamma. levels were significantly reduced across treatment groups, with the lowest levels in the 20% extract group (p=0.001). These findings indicate that pomegranate extract cream enhances wound healing by upregulating FGF and downregulating IFN-gamma expression, with the 20% concentration showing the most effective response, comparable to Bioplacenton.

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