Effects of the Folk Medicinal Plant Extract Ankaferd BloodStopper on the Healing of Colon Anastomosis: An Experimental Study in a Rat Model

OBJECTIVES: Ankaferd BloodStopper (ABS) is a topical hemostatic agent that modulates the inflammatory response and accelerates wound healing. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ABS on the colon anastomosis wound healing in a rat model. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups as follows: Group A (n=8), left colonic anastomosis plus ABS treatment (sacrificed on the 3(rd) day); Group B (n=8) (control), left colonic anastomosis (sacrificed on the 3(rd) day); Group C (n=8), left colonic anastomosis plus ABS treatment (sacrificed on the 7(th) day); and Group D (n=8) (control), left colonic anastomosis (sacrificed on the 7(th) day). All rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment to assess the anastomosis integrity and the presence of perianastomosis abscesses, peritonitis, and adhesions. Additionally, the bursting pressure and hydroxyproline (OH-pyroline) levels were determined, and a histopathologic evaluation of the perianastomosis tissue was conducted. RESULTS: The mean bursting pressure on Day 7 was significantly higher than that on Day 3 in the ABS group (p=0.017). Overall, the bursting pressure was higher in animals treated with ABS than in the control animals, although the difference was not statistically significant. The OH-pyroline levels of both ABS groups were significantly higher than in the control groups. The mean OH-pyroline level on Day 7 was higher than that on Day 3 in the ABS-treated animals (p=0.038). CONCLUSION: ABS increases collagen formation and neovascularization, and it has a positive impact during the colon anastomosis healing in an experimental model of wound healing.