Zahra Akbari - PHD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Maria Zahiri - PHD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Hossein Heidari - PHD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Sadegh Darvishi - PHD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA), blue-green algae, have many beneficial health effects. Recently, fucoidan, known polysaccharide component of AFA algae, has been claimed to stimulate stem-cell mobilization. Stem cells play an essential role in tissue repair process. Therefore, in this study we use excisional wound model to investigate the effectiveness of trademark AFA extract –StemEnhance - on skin wound repair process. Methods: Twenty eight male wistar rats (200-250 gr) randomly assigned into 4 groups; 1)control group without any treatment, 2 ,3) StemEnhace (SE) groups were given 200 or 400 mg/kg SE by oral gavage once daily and 4) sham group were given saline as vehicle. Following anesthesia, two round excisional wound was created under sterile conditions by 6mm puncher on the dorsum of all rats. Day of wounding assigned as zero. Gavage of 2ml SE or saline started from 1st day and continued to 7th day post-wounding. Wound size was monitored daily by digital camera. At 9th day repaired tissues were harvested by 8 mm puncher. Histopathological parameters were assessed by H&E staining. Result: macroscopic imaging of wound area revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in wound closure rate between SE groups and sham/control groups. However, histological findings showed that the number of neutrophil and macrophage decreased but epidermal thickness and microvessel density increased in treatment groups. In conclusion, it seems that StemEnhance improves healing process by ameliorating inflammatory response and stimulating proliferation of keratinocyte and angiogenesis.

AFA, Wound, StemEnhance