Assessment of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing effects of methanolic soybean seed extract in an excision wound model in albino rats

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex physiological process influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation. This study assessed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing effects of a methanolic extract of soybean seeds using a full-thickness excision wound model in male albino rats. Fourteen rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 7). Under anesthesia, full-thickness skin wounds were aseptically created in the thoraco-abdominal region. Group A received sterile water (placebo) topically, while Group B received the soybean seed extract daily for 21 days. Wound healing was evaluated by macroscopic examination, measurement of wound contraction, and analysis of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.By day 7, wound contraction was significantly higher in the control group (60.42 ± 6.65%) compared to the extract-treated group (43.96 ± 11.58%) (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio between the two groups. However, biochemical analyses showed elevated levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the treated group (MDA: 4.26 ± 0.39 µmol/mg; SOD: 1.43 ± 0.16 mg/mL) versus the control (MDA: 3.18 ± 0.51 µmol/ mg; SOD: 1.01 ± 0.13 mg/mL) (p < 0.05).In conclusion, topical application of soybean seed methanolic extract did not enhance wound healing but improved antioxidant markers, indicating its potential role in mitigating oxidative stress rather than directly accelerating tissue repair.