PURPOSE: Evaluate, from a histologic view point, the action of the aqueous extract of aroeira-do-sertão on the healing of colonic anastomosis, in Wistar rats. METHODS: There were used 48 Wistar rats, males, with average weight of 320g, distributed in two groups, with 24 animals, each. All animals were subjected to a complete transverse section of the descending colon, followed by colonic anastomosis. The rats on group A received daily post-operative enemas of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) based vehicle. The animals on group B received post-operative enemas of 10% aqueous extract of aroeira-do-sertão in CMC based vehicle, until the date of euthanasia. On days 3, 7, 14 and 21 of the experiment, six rats in each group were subjected to removal of a colonic segment, including the anastomosis, destined to histological evaluation and qualitative analysis of inflammatory and healing cell response. RESULTS: The morphologic analysis reveals a significant difference between groups, on day 7 (ñ < 0,05), when the group studied showed lower score than the control group. The collagen deposition on the aroeira group was lower, on days 3, 7 and 14 (ñ < 0,05), compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of aroeira-do-sertão has anti-inflammatory action. It also has inhibitory effect on collagen deposition during the phases of inflammation and fibroplasia of the healing process of colonic anastomoses, in Wistar rats, but in advanced phases (day 21) the healing process is similar to that in the animals of the control group.
Colorectal Surgery; Wound healing; Phytotherapy
