Mechanisms of Ivermectin-Induced Wound Healing

October 2020 in “ BMC Veterinary Research ”

Daniel Kwesi Sia, Kwesi Boadu Mensah, Tony Opoku-Agyemang, Raphael Folitse, David Obiri Darko

ivermectin TGF-β1 VEGF Silver Sulfadiazine myeloperoxidase neutrophil infiltration Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

TLDR Ivermectin cream speeds up wound healing and reduces scarring.

The study demonstrated that ivermectin cream, particularly at lower doses (0.03–0.1%), effectively promoted wound healing in Sprague Dawley rats by reducing inflammation and enhancing growth factors like TGF-β1 and VEGF, which are essential for tissue repair. Ivermectin-treated wounds showed faster healing with minimal scarring compared to controls, including Silver Sulfadiazine. The treatment reduced exudation, edema, and hyperemia, and decreased myeloperoxidase activity, indicating less neutrophil infiltration. The study involved 100 rats and concluded that ivermectin could modulate inflammatory responses and improve healing outcomes, suggesting its potential use in treating wounds with reduced scar formation.