Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Apis mellifera propolis extract gel on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in the traumatic ulcers of rats afflicted with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 24 male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) induced with DM by injecting 50 mg/kg of Streptozotocin, intraperitoneally, and a traumatic ulcer on their lower lip mucosa. These were divided into eight groups: Four each for control and treatment groups. Each control and treatment group consisted of three rats. The control groups treated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 5% gel and treatment groups were administered with propolis extract gel. The expression of VEGF and MMP-9 was observed on days 3, 5, 7, and 9. Furthermore, mice sacrificed and the lower lip labial mucosa tissue of mice has been taken to make the histopathology anatomy preparation by means of immunohistochemical examination with monoclonal antibodies anti-VEGF and anti-MMP-9.

Results: This experiment revealed higher VEGF expression and lower MMP-9 expression in the treatment group as compared to that of the control group. Analysis of Variance showed significant differences (p<0.01) of both VEGF expression and MMP-9 expression between the two groups. A Tukey's analysis did not find strong contrasts in VEGF and MMP-9 expressions between various treatment groups. However, those between treatment and control groups were found to be considerable.

Conclusion: Propolis extract gel increased the expression of VEGF and decreased that of MMP-9 during the healing process of traumatic ulcers on the oral mucosa of diabetes afflicted Wistar rats (R. norvegicus).

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, matrix metalloproteinase-9, ulcer healing process, vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

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