Effects ofRosmarinus officinalison the survivability of random-patterned skin flaps: An experimental study

Abstract

Improving survival of skin flaps used in soft-tissue reconstruction is clinically an important goal, and several systemic and local agents have been used for this purpose. However, a substance that prevents the flap necrosis has not yet been defined. This study aimed to investigate whether a Rosmarinus officinalis extract could improve the skin flap survival. In this study, 21 Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. Rectangular 8 × 2 cm random-pattern flaps were elevated from the back of the rats. Group I was considered the control group. In Group II, a 0.5-cc of Rosmarinus officinalis oil was applied with an ear bud to the flap area 30 minutes before the flap elevation. After suturing the flaps to their location, the oil was administered twice a day for a week. In Group III, 0.5 cc of the oil was applied twice a day to the area that was elevated for a week until surgery. At the end of the week, the flaps were sutured to their location, and wiped postoperatively twice a day for a week with the oil. Mean percentage of these areas was found to be 29.81%, 58.99%, and 67.68% in Group I, Group II, and Group III, respectively. The mean percentage of the flap survival areas and vessel diameters were significantly greater in the Groups II and III than in the control group (p < 0.05). The results revealed that the topical use of the Rosmarinus officinalis extract can increase the flap survivability.

Use of Systemic Rosmarinus Officinalis to Enhance the Survival of Random-Pattern Skin Flaps

“…This rate is lower than that in Group III, where a systemic dose of the R. officinalis oil for a week before surgery was administered. While the average ratio of viable to necrotic surface area in control groups was 28% in the previous study on R. officinalis, this value was 27% in our study (5). Although our control group had lower success than previous studies, in our Group III, the viable surface area was greater.…”

“…A previous study investigating the effects of Rosmarinus officinalis on the survival of skin flaps reported that the average ratio of viable surface area to total flap area was 28% in control groups; this value increased to 59% in groups that were treated with R. officinalis extract (5). The viable surface area was further increased to 68% by topical application of the oil for a week before flap elevation.…”

“…Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) has been used in the prevention of flap necrosis (5); it is known to exert antimicrobial (6-10), antioxidant (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), anti-inflammatory (19,20), antifungal (6,9,10), antidiabetic (15), anticarcinogenic (13,19), antiplatelet (21), antimetastatic (13,19), antiproliferative (16) and antimutagenic (22) effects.…”

Effect of cineole, alpha-pinene, and camphor on survivability of skin flaps

“…In previous studies investigating the effects of RO on the survival of skin flaps, the viable surface areas of ROtreated flaps were reported to be significantly greater in all treated groups than that in control groups (5,6). The authors claimed that, in addition to antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects, RO had vasodilatory effects that contributed to increased flap survival.…”

“…Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) is the one of the agents that have been used systemically and topically in the prevention of flap necrosis (5,6). RO has antimicrobial (7-10), antioxidant (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), antiinflammatory (19,20), antifungal (7,9,10), antidiabetic (15), anticarcinogenic (13,19), antiplatelet (21), antimetastatic (13,19), antiproliferative (16), and antimutagenic (22) effects.…”