Catechin Hydrate Improves Hypertrophic Scar in Rabbit Ear Model via Reduction of Collagen Synthesis.

Background: Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a cutaneous condition results from abnormal wound healing following deep tissue injury. To date, there is no optimal treatment for this skin disorder. Catechins possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-fibrotic properties. In this study we investigated the effects of catechin hydrate (CH) in rabbit ear model of HS.

Methods: A rabbit ear model of hypertrophic scar was set up. Ten New Zealand white rabbit were divided into 5 equal groups: non-treatment group, vehicle control, treated with intralesional injection of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and test groups, received intralesional injection of CH/DMSO solution at concentration of 0.25, 1.25 and, 2.5 mg/ml, respectively. The treatments were initiated ‏‎35 days after wounding once a ‏week for ‏‎4 ‎weeks‎.‎ ‏ The scar elevation index (SEI) and the epidermal thickness index (ETI) were measured using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) ‏staining and the amount of collagen deposition were determined after Masson‎' ‎trichrome staining‎. ‎In addition‎, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ‎‏method was used to determine the levels of ‎ type І ‏and ІІІ collagen and matrix metalloproteinase ‏‎1 (MMP1) in scar tissues.

Results: CH improved abnormal scarring at concentrations of 1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml and significantly (P<0.001) reduced the SEI and ETI. The levels of collagen type І and type ІІІ, and total collagen deposition were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in scar tissues of CH treated groups and no significant effect on MMP1 levels.

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that CH has the potential for the treatment of HSs.