Wound Healing Potential of a Formulation Containing Yerba Mate ( Ilex paraguariensis ) Extract: A Preclinical Study in a Rat Model of Undernutrition

Abstract

The development of novel formulations to promote an accelerated wound healing process is an important needin medicine. Yerba mate (YM) (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.) exhibits significant biological activities, and we here developed aYM-based formulation (YMF), combining a natural and polyphenol-rich YM extract with a mixture of amino acids and vitamins,and assessed its healing effect in undernourished rats in comparison to normonourished rats subjected to excisional wounds. Twofull-thickness wounds were performed when the weight difference between the normal and undernourished groups reached 30%–35%, and then the diet of both the undernourished control undernourished treated groups was changed to a normal nutritionalcondition. The treatment consisted of supplying rats with YMF (15 mL/100 g body weight/day) in replacement of drinkingwater from 7 days before surgery until the end of these studies. Wound closure analysis revealed a progressive increase inwound contraction in undernourished rats treated with YMF until an advanced stage of healing as compared to control animals.Histology showed a higher total score with better angiogenesis and inflammation scores in YMF-treated animals (p < 0.01). Somehematological and biochemical variables were significantly correlated with the nutrition and YMF treatment. Besides, the bodyweight of animals did not change during the treatment, with the exception of day 12 after surgery, when this parameter washigher in the undernourished treated group than in the undernourished control group (p < 0.05). Taken together, the new YMFimproved the healing of excisionalwounds in a preclinical animal model and could be considered a nutraceutical for the treatmentof nutritionally affected patients with complex wounds.