Effect of vitamin E on plasma malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzyme levels and the rates of wound closures during wound healing in normal and diabetic rats.

Vitamin E is composed of various subfamilies that include tocopherols and tocotrienols. These compounds have antioxidant properties but differ in structure, dietary source and potency. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of alpha-tocopherol as an antioxidant and its role in wound closure in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The healing of 6 cm linear incisions created on the back of each male Sprague-Dawley rat (250-300 g) was monitored by measuring the length of the wounds daily. The rats were divided into two categories; normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. For each category, the animals were further divided into two groups; those untreated and those receiving 200 mg/kg bodyweight alpha-tocopherols daily by oral gavage. All rats were fed standard food and water ad libitum. Blood samples were taken at 0, 5 and 10 days after the wounds were created for the determination of malondialdehyde levels and red cell superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The results showed that alpha-tocopherol reduced plasma malondialdehyde levels, increased glutathione peroxidase activity and accelerated the rate of wound closure in treated rats.