The effect of hydrolyzed gardeniae fructus extract hydrogel on the treatment of ecchymoses in a rat model.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gardeniae fructus (GF) has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of GF gel on the resolution of ecchymoses in rats. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty hind limbs (in 25 Sprague-Dawley rats) were evaluated. The ecchymoses were produced by dropping a 100-g weight from a height of 20 cm on the posterior side of the hind limbs 25 times. Then, 0.5 g of hydrolyzed GF extracted gel was applied to the right hind limbs and 0.5 g of gel without GF extract powder was applied to the left hind limbs. The area of the ecchymosis was measured, and histological analysis was performed. RESULTS: The area affected by the ecchymosis after 5 days was 15% in the control group and 2% in the GF gel group (p=.002). The mean duration for the ecchymosis was 5.8 days in the control group and 4.5 days in the GF gel group. The extravasated red blood cells and inflammation were less prominent in the GF gel group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that hydrolyzed gel of GF extract, containing genipin, was effective for the treatment of ecchymoses in a rat model.