Geopropolis from Melipona fasciculata Smith Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice.

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers present a significant clinical challenge because of their high prevalence and severe complications. The need for innovative and accessible treatment options is critical. Owing to their medicinal properties, natural products, such as geopropolis, hold promise. However, the wound healing potential of the geopropolis of Melipona fasciculata, particularly in accelerating the healing of diabetic ulcers, remains unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the geopropolis of M. fasciculata to promote wound healing in diabetic mice.

Methods: Geopropolis was collected, prepared as a hydroalcoholic extract, and formulated into a topical cream. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with induced chronic wounds were treated with this cream daily, and wound healing was assessed through macroscopic measurements, histological analysis, cytokine quantification, and in silico molecular docking studies.

Results: The results demonstrated that, compared with the control treatment, the geopropolis cream accelerated wound closure at all the analyzed time points (days 3, 7, and 14), reduced inflammatory infiltrates, and enhanced fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. These alterations were particularly pronounced in the final phase of healing, indicating an improvement in wound repair processes. These effects occurred without altering systemic cytokine levels, suggesting a localized treatment action. These results may be partially associated with the theoretical ability of beta-amyrin and cycloartenol to interact with human myeloperoxidase (MPO), as suggested by in silico docking analysis.

Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicate that geopropolis cream could represent a viable alternative for managing diabetic ulcers, providing an effective means to enhance wound healing while remaining accessible to low-income populations.