In this study; we aimed to investigate the effects of carvacrol, obtained from the plant "origanum onites", on the physiological mechanisms of wound healing. The physiological mechanism of these effects and the role of cytokines (TNF-a, IL-1b and TGF-b1) in these mechanisms were investigated.

Thirty-two, 6 to 8 months old wistar albino rats weigthing 350 to 450 g were used. Twelve of them were used in the first and 20 in the second stage of the study. At the first stage, punch biopsy was performed under anesthesia to create wounds, spaced 1cm from each other, on the dorsal midline skin of the animals. Preliminary results gave the amount of required carvacrol dose for affecting wound healing. In the second stage animals were divided into two groups as experimental (n=10) and control (n=10).

Carvacrol dose (amount defined at the first stage) was applied to the experimental group rat wound tissues for 5 days while in the control group sunflower oil was applied.

On the third, eighth, twelfth and fiifteenth days of the wound healing tissue samples were taken. The tissue samples were evaluated in terms of wound depth and granulation tissue thickness (with light microscope), wound tissue healing measurement ratios (with photographic images), TNF-a, IL-1b and TGF-b1 levels (with ELISA method).

In the statistical analysis of the data repeated measures variance analysis were used to asses the effect of group and time and their interaction. Parameters of the study and control groups belonging to the same day were evaluated using Mann Whitney U test. The wound tissue thickness versus cytokine levels (tissue surface maesurement) and wound depth versus granulation healing ratios were assessed by Pearson twotailed correlation test. Significance was set at p< 0.05.

Results showed that TNF-a levels of the experimental group on the third day, were significantly higher (p< 0.001) than that of the control group. IL-1b levels of the group on the eighth day were significantly higher (p=0.034) than that of the control group. TGF-b1 levels of the experimental group on the eighth day were significantly lower than the control group (p=0.009).

TGF-b1 levels of the experimental group on the 12 th day, were significantly lower than that of the control group (p=0.003). The wound depth of the experimental group on the eighth day were significantly higher (p=0.002) than that of the control group. Granulation tissue thickness of the experimental group on the eighth day were significantly lower than the control group (p=0.008). Wound tissue surface measurement healing ratios of the experimental group on the 12 th day were significantly higher (p=0.014) than the control group. On the third day, in the experimental group a statistically significant negative correlation between TGF-b1 levels and wound depth were determined (r= -0.768, p=0.009). On the other hand in the control group statistically significant negative correlation was established between the TGF-b1 levels and tissue thickness on the 12 th day (r= -0.712, p=0.031).

As a conclusion the solution of carvakrol in the %12.5 concentration helps to fasten covering of the wound tissue and to leave fewer scar tissue and may be used for curing full depth skin wounds. If we take in to account the interactions between mediators taking role in wound healing, carvacrol's possible effects on the growth factors and cytokines are open to research.

Key Words: 

Carvacrol, Wound healing, TGF-b1, IL-1b, TNF-a.