Experimental Investigation of the Effects of 'Nigella sativa' and 'Vitis vinifera' on Intraoral Wound Healing.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to experimentally investigate the effects of Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera oils on intraoral wound healing in rats through biochemical, histopathological, and histomorphometric evaluations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixty male Wistar albino rats (4-6 months old) were divided into four groups: Control (C, n = 6), Saline (S, n = 18), Nigella sativa (Ns, n = 18), and Vitis vinifera (Vv, n = 18). A full-thickness circular wound of 3.5 mm was created in the palate. Treatments were administered daily via oral gavage until the day of sacrifice. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were measured from collected blood samples using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Full-thickness tissue samples (1 × 1 cm, including healthy tissue) underwent routine histological processing. The resulting intraoral photographs were used for digital wound area measurements. RESULTS: In the experimental groups, cytokine levels in blood samples collected during the first week differed significantly compared with the control group. Significant differences in IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were observed among the subgroups on days 7, 14, and 21 (p 0.05). Histological evaluation showed a significant reduction in intraepithelial ulceration in the Ns and Vv groups (p 0.05), along with increased re-epithelialisation. Wound area measurements revealed significant differences between the Ns and Vv groups and the S group (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nigella sativa and Vitis vinifera support intraoral wound healing through modulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first experimental comparison of these two phytochemicals in an intraoral wound healing model.