Potato Peel Extract Reduces MMP-9 Expression During Oral Mucosal Wound Healing in Rats.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the differences in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression during oral mucosal wound healing in Wistar rats after administration of 4% and 6% potato peel extract gel compared to 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide. Material and Methods: A true experimental design was employed involving 48 Wistar rats, randomly assigned to four groups (n = 12 per group), consisting of placebo gel, 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide, 4% potato peel extract gel, and 6% potato peel extract gel. Excisional oral mucosal wounds were created using a punch biopsy instrument. For each group, three rats were euthanized and analyzed at each time point (days 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14) to assess MMP-9 expression. Histopathological evaluation was performed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry was used for MMP-9 analysis. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Both 4% and 6% potato peel extract gel groups showed reduced MMP-9 expression compared to placebo and 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide across all time points (p < 0.05). Post hoc analysis showed that on day 14, the 4% extract group did not differ significantly from the 6% extract group (p = 0.584) or from day 7 groups (p > 0.05), but showed significant differences compared to day 0 and the 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide group on day 7 (p < 0.05), indicating a distinct treatment effect at day 14. Among the two concentrations, the 4% extract group showed a lower mean MMP-9 expression compared to the 6% group. Conclusion: Granola potato peel ethanol extract gel at a concentration of 4% was the most effective in reducing MMP-9 expression compared to the 6% extract and 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide during oral mucosal wound healing, highlighting its potential as a natural alternative to corticosteroids and contributing to innovation in pharmaceutical research.