Seyedeh-Sara Hashemi

7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in target tissues. Royal jelly (RJ) is rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and peptides. This study evaluated whether RJ can mitigate DMBA-induced oxidative, apoptotic, and histopathological changes in the rat mammary gland and skin. Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups, including the Control (no treatment), RJ (300 mg/kg/week, orally), DMBA (single dose 80 mg/kg, IP), and DMBA + RJ (same doses). After 8 weeks, mammary gland and skin specimens were collected. Oxidative stress markers were quantified in tissue homogenates. Apoptotic gene and protein expression were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Ki67 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, histopathological evaluation (H&E stain) was conducted. DMBA significantly increased MDA, reduced GPx, SOD, and TAC. Pro-apoptotic markers were upregulated, while Bcl2 was downregulated. Histopathology revealed vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, mitotic figures, and corpora amylacea in the mammary gland, and epidermal hyperplasia, mitotic figures, follicular hyperplasia, and focal necrosis in skin. RJ co-treatment restored GPx and SOD levels to almost those of the control group, reduced MDA, decreased p53 and Bax to near-control levels, and increased Bcl2 to the approximate level of the control group. Moreover, RJ treatment normalized the mammary gland histologically, while skin showed attenuated necrosis and decreased epidermal hyperplasia and mitotic index. RJ effectively countered DMBA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the rat mammary gland while preserving tissue integrity. In skin, RJ mitigated oxidative damage and reduced proliferation. These outcomes suggest RJ’s potential as an adjuvant antioxidant in glandular disorders, while showing the anticarcinogenic potential.

Introduction: Wound dressings often fall short of providing the multifunctional capabilities required for optimal wound healing, such as promoting cell migration, proliferation, and tissue regeneration. Decellularization of plant tissues has gained attention as a potential source of biomaterials for tissue engineering applications due to their favorable characteristics, including pre-existing vascular networks, interconnected porous structure, efficient water transport and retention, high surface area, and a diverse range of mechanical properties.Methods: This study investigates the feasibility of using decellularized walnut leaves (DWL) as a novel scaffold for wound dressing in a mice model of excisional wounds. The decellularization and bleaching processes were carried out using various chemical agents. DNA and protein quantification and hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to reveal the successful removal of cells in DWL. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to indicate that the normal structure of walnut leaves was preserved after chemical decellularization. Chemical characterization was conducted using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy to show the remaining bioactive molecules and components in the structure of DWL.Results: Comparing tensile strength and surface roughness parameters, surface wettability, swelling, and porosity properties of native and DWL indicated no statistical differences between them. SEM analysis demonstrated that human mesenchymal stem cells excellently attach and proliferate on the DWL. Additionally, the biocompatibility and potential of DWL scaffolds to accelerate wound closure and enhance histopathological scores, collagen deposition, and epithelial thickness were observed in a mice model of excisional wounds.Discussion: In conclusion, DWL shows promising potential for application as a skin wound dressing due to its biocompatibility, ability to promote cell attachment and proliferation, and efficacy in accelerating wound healing.

Introduction: Recently, the application of nanofibrous mats for dressing skin wounds has received great attention. In this study, we aimed to fabricate and characterize an electrospun nanofibrous mat containing polycaprolactone (PCL), chitosan (CTS), and propolis for use as a tissue-engineered skin substitute. Methods: Raw propolis was extracted, and its phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured. The physiochemical and biological properties of the fabricated mats, including PCL, PCL/CTS, and PCL/CTS/Propolis were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), mechanical analysis, swelling and degradation behaviors, contact angle measurement, cell attachment, DAPI staining, and MTT assay. On the other hand, the drug release pattern of propolis from the PCL/CTS/Propolis scaffold was determined. A deep second-degree burn wound model was induced in rats to investigate wound healing using macroscopical and histopathological evaluations. Results: The results revealed that the propolis extract contained high amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The fabricated scaffold had suitable physicochemical and mechanical properties. Uniform, bead-free, and well-branched fibers were observed in SEM images of mats. AFM analysis indicated that the addition of CTS and propolis to PCL elevated the surface roughness. MTT results revealed that the electrospun PCL/CTS/Propolis mat was biocompatible. The presence of fibroblast cells on the PCL/CTS/Propolis mats was confirmed by DAPI staining and SEM images. Also, propolis was sustainably released from the PCL/CTS/Propolis mat. The animal study revealed that addition of propolis significantly improved wound healing. Conclusion: The nanofibrous PCL/CTS/Propolis mat can be applied as a tissue-engineered skin substitute for healing cutaneous wounds, such as burn wounds.