Expression of fibroblast cells after extraction of wistar rat teeth after topical application of okra fruit ( Abelmoschus esculentus) gel

Background: Tooth extraction is a dental procedure for removing a teeth from the alveolar bone socket. The tooth extraction process causes damage to hard tissue and soft tissue, so the body will respond physiologically to heal the wound. The wound healing process is divided into several phases, one of which is the proliferation phase of fibroblasts, which is one of the most important phases in the process of wound healing. Okra fruit contains saponins, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids that have antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant effects, and can stimulate angiogenesis so to accelerate the process of wound healing.

Objective: to prove that the administration of okra fruit extract can accelerate the process of wound healing after extraction in the teeth of Wistar rats through increased expression of fibroblast cells.

Methods: 18 Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups; control group and treatment group. The treatment group received a 30% okra fruit extract. The number of fibroblasts was calculated statistically using One Way ANOVA and Tukey HSD.

Results: The results showed that the expression of control group fibroblast cells on day 3 (19.00±2.0), day 5 (21.67±2.08), day 7 (24.00±2.00), whereas in the treatment group on day 3 (24.00±1.00), day 5 (29.00±2.00), day 7 (30.00±1.53). Anova test between groups showed a significant difference with P-value 0.006.

Conclusion: 30% okra fruit extract can increase fibroblast expression in wound healing process after extraction of Wistar rat teeth.

Keywords: Tooth extraction; fibroblasts; okra fruit; wound healing.