Effects of oral gavage treatment of Eupatilin on protection of skin flaps in rats

Introduction: Nowadays, skin flaps are used to repair wounds, skin lesions and in reconstructive surgeries. In this way, the main problem is loss of flap tissue and necrosis, due to processes that result from ischemia-reperfusion injury and reactive oxygen species. Eupatilin is an O-methylated flavone derived from Artemisia plants that demonstrates anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-tumor effects. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Eupatilin administration on the survival of skin flap and oxidative stress by measuring necrotic area of skin flap and oxidative stress markers, in rats. Materials and Methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups (10 rats per group), including Sham group, Flap group, Eupatilin+ Flap group (received Eupatilin before flap), and Flap + Eupatilin group (received Eupatilin after flap). Eupatilin (10 mg / kg) was administered as oral gavage to mice. One week after flap surgery in a 3 x 8 cm scale, flap necrosis, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels - using thiobarbituric acid method (TBA)- and superoxide dismutase (SOD) - using an oxidase enzymatic method- was measured. Results: Treatment with Eupatilin, before or after flap, reduced the necrosis area of flap (P <0.05 vs flap group). Decreased MDA level (P <0.05 vs flap group) and increased superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) (P <0.01 vs flap group) are shown. Conclusion: The data obtained from this study demonstrated improvement of skin flap survival in rats and reduction of tissue necrosis and oxidative stress by Eupatilin treatment, either before or after flap surgery.