Effects of aucubin on the healing of oral wounds.

Aucubin is an iridoid glycoside with a variety of pharmacological effects, such as antimicrobial and antiinflammatory, whilst also promoting dermal wound healing. This study examined the effects of 0.1% aucubin on oral wound healing. ICR male mice were divided into two groups: an untreated control group (n=18) and an aucubin-treated group (n=18). Saline or 0.1% aucubin solution was injected and artificial full thickness wounds were made on either side of the buccal mucosa. Specimens were taken on days 1, 3 and 5, and light microscopic examination and quantitative histological analysis were performed to determine the extent of re-epithelization, inflammatory cell infiltration and matrix formation. Re-epithelization and matrix formation of the aucubin-treated group occurred earlier than that of the control group. In addition, the number of inflammatory cells of the aucubin-treated group was fewer than that of the control group. In conclusion, aucubin may be useful for oral wound healing and can be applied as a topical agent to oral wounds.