The Effects of Systemic Use of Epigallocatechin Gallate in Thermal Injury Progression

Abstract

The burn wound progression is a complex process caused by inadequate tissue perfusion, free radical damage, and altered cytokine levels in burn patients. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has vasodilator, antioxidant, and skin protective properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on burn wounds. Nine male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to the control group and received no burn insult. The other rats were exposed to thermal injury with a brass comb and randomly divided into two groups: burn with no further treatment (group 1, n:3) and burn with enteral EGCG treatment (group 2, n:3). The administration of EGCG was initiated 5 min after the burn procedure at a dose of 1 mg/kg by gastric lavage and repeated for 3 days at an infusion rate of 1 mg/kg/day. Skin sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson’s trichrome for histochemistry. The primary antibodies used for immunohistochemistry included rabbit anti-4-hydroxynonenal (protein-HNE), rabbit anti-malondialdehyde (protein-MDA, mouse monoclonal anti-acrolein (protein-ACR), rabbit anti-ALDH1A1, and rabbit anti-ALDH2. Systemic administration of EGCG after burn injury significantly ameliorated the histological alterations in burn sites, especially in the zone of stasis. The expression of reactive aldehyde products (HNE, MDA, ACR) as a result of thermal injury significantly decreased in the EGCG group. EGCG reduced reactive aldehyde products independent of ALDH1 and ALDH2 pathway and improved histological alterations with cytoprotective and antioxidant effects. Early systemic use of EGCG prevents burn wound from progressing to deep structures and limits its extension to the adjacent zones.