The effect of chrysin on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat epigastric artery skin island flap.

Background: The return of oxygenated blood by reperfusion after ischemia triggers paradoxical tissue damage known as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study aims to investigate the effect of chrysin (C) on I/R injury in epigastric island flaps in rats.

Methods: Thirty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6): the sham control group (Group I), the flap I/R-untreated group (Group II), the I/R + C 10 mg/kg/day group (Group III), the I/R + C 50 mg/kg/day group (Group IV), and the I/R + C 100 mg/kg/day (Group V). Chrysin was administered orally for seven days before and after surgery. Flap elevation was performed on the eighth day, followed by eight hours of induced ischemia. Flap survival rate, as well as biochemical and histopathological parameters, were evaluated.

Results: Oral administration of chrysin significantly reduced fibroblast activity at all treatment doses in rats subjected to I/R injury. Although improvements were observed in flap survival rate, oxidative stress index (OSI), and vascular proliferation at 10 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day doses, as well as in total oxidant status (TOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), active inflammation, chronic inflammation and ulceration across all treatment doses, these changes did not reach statistical significance. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values, consistent with existing literature, did not appear to influence the positive outcomes.

Conclusion: This study examined the effects of chrysin treatment on ischemia-reperfusion injury using a rat inferior epigastric artery skin island flap model. Although favorable molecular changes were observed, these did not translate into significant improvements in clinical outcomes.