The effects of Polyvinyl Alcohol–Chitosan Hydrogel Loaded with Moringa Oleifera Extract on Healing of Infected Burn Wounds in Rats Under High-Intensity Interval Training

Ahmadi Simab, Pouria; Babavalian, Hamid; Shakibaee, Abolfazl; Shakeri, Fatemeh; Ahmadpour, Fathollah; Khoshmohabbat, Hadi; Sobhani, Zahra

doi:10.30491/tm.2025.536183.1857

The effects of Polyvinyl Alcohol–Chitosan Hydrogel Loaded with Moringa Oleifera Extract on Healing of Infected Burn Wounds in Rats Under High-Intensity Interval Training

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Pouria Ahmadi Simab ¹

Hamid Babavalian ¹

Abolfazl Shakibaee ²

Fatemeh Shakeri ¹

Fathollah Ahmadpour ³

Hadi Khoshmohabbat ³

Zahra Sobhani ⁴

¹ Applied Biotechnology Research Center, New Health Technologies Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Exercise Physiology Research Center, Lifestyle Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical, Tehran, Iran

³ Trauma Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Science, Mashhad, Iran.

10.30491/tm.2025.536183.1857

Abstract

Introduction: Burn injuries represent a critical medical challenge due to their prolonged healing time, susceptibility to infection, high treatment costs, and risk of systemic complications. Recent therapeutic approaches have focused on combining physical interventions and phytotherapeutic agents to enhance wound repair. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of a polyvinyl alcohol–chitosan hydrogel infused with Moringa oleifera seed extract and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the healing of infected third-degree burn wounds in rats.
Methods: A hydrogel formulation based on polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan was synthesized incorporating Moringa oleifera extract. Male Wistar rats (n=72) were randomly assigned to four groups: T1 (HIIT alone), T2 (HIIT + hydrogel), T3 (hydrogel alone), and T4 (control). HIIT was administered for three weeks prior to wound induction. All animals received third-degree burn wounds followed by infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Wound healing was assessed both macroscopically and microscopically on days 7, 14, and 21 post-injuries.
Results: Macroscopic evaluation showed significantly greater wound contraction in T2 (combined HIIT and hydrogel) compared to other groups during the first and second weeks (p < 0.05). By the third week, although no significant difference was observed among the treated groups (T1–T3), all outperformed the control (p > 0.05). Histological analysis revealed enhanced angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, fibroplasia, collagen deposition, and reduced inflammatory infiltration in all treatment groups, with T2 consistently demonstrating the most pronounced improvements.
Conclusion: Both HIIT and topical application of Moringa oleifera-enriched chitosan hydrogel individually contributed to improved wound healing outcomes. However, their combination resulted in synergistic effects, promoting accelerated wound closure, enhanced tissue regeneration, and better modulation of inflammatory cell infiltrations. This synergy may be due to HIIT-induced systemic increases in growth factors and antioxidants, potentiating the local anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects of Moringa oleifera extract.

Keywords

Burn wound healing

Moringa oleifera

Chitosan hydrogel

High-intensity interval training

Phytotherapeutic biomaterial

Subjects