Potensi Hidrogel Kombinasi Ekstrak Propolis Lebah Trigona dan Kulit Buah Delima Merah dalam Penyembuhan Model Ulkus Diabetikum Tikus Putih

Abstract

Background. Diabetic ulcer (DU) is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), a condition characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to impaired insulin production and/or action. Poor glycemic control prolongs the inflammatory phase and increases the risk of infection, thereby slowing the wound-healing process. In the community, natural and herbal-based therapies are believed to support DU healing, particularly Trigona bee propolis and red pomegranate peel. Objective. This study aimed to determine the wound-healing potential of a hydrogel combining Trigona bee propolis and red pomegranate peel extracts in a DM model. Methods. This is a posttest-only control group study. A total of 35 male white rats (Rattus norvegicus) were induced to DM using intraperitoneal alloxan. Excisional wounds were created using punch biopsies. Animals were grouped into: negative control, positive control (gentamicin), P1 (Trigona bee propolis), P2 (red pomegranate peel), and P3 (combination). Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed using the disk diffusion method. Wound area was measured for 14 days. Histopathological evaluation was performed qualitatively on H&E-stained tissues. Results. The combination group exhibited antibacterial activity with the largest inhibition zones against P. aeruginosa (29.30 ± 0.10 mm) and S. aureus (20.50 ± 0.70 mm), compared with single-extract groups (p<0.05). The P3 group demonstrated the fastest wound closure on day 14, with a mean wound area of 8.89 ± 4.99 mm², lower than the negative control (14.81 ± 10.87 mm²), although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Histopathological evaluation showed that P3 provided the most optimal tissue regeneration, characterized by complete re-epithelialization and collagen remodeling. Conclusion. The hydrogel combining Trigona bee propolis and red pomegranate peel extracts has the potential to accelerate wound healing in a diabetic ulcer rat model.