Effect of Propolis and Liquid Smoke Nanogel on TGF-β and Macrophage Activity in Rattus Norvegicus with Traumatic Ulcer

Traumatic ulcers are a disorder of the oral mucosa, the incidence of which reaches 83.6% in both men and women. Chronic traumatic ulcers have malignant potential if not properly managed. Propolis is a natural ingredient derived from the resin collected by honeybees, which is widely used in alternative medicine because of its content. Liquid smoke is a compound resulting from the condensation of a hot reactor containing various chemical compounds that act as antioxidants, antiseptics, antibacterials, and as preservatives. This research aims to evaluate whether a nanogel combining propolis extract and liquid smoke can more effectively enhance the healing of chronic traumatic ulcers compared to propolis alone. This study involved 36 male rats aged 2-3 months, divided into three groups: a control group, a group given only propolis, and a group given a combination of propolis and liquid smoke, with treatments administered twice daily for 7 days. The expression of TGF-β cells and macrophages in the healing process of traumatic oral ulcers in rats showed significant differences between the administration of nanogels with a combination of propolis extract and liquid smoke and the administration of propolis extract nanogels. The average number of TGF-β cells and macrophages in the experimental group treated with the combined nanogel of propolis extract and liquid smoke increased significantly on the third day (P < 0.05), more rapidly than in the other groups. Propolis extract and liquid smoke combination nanogel accelerate the healing process of chronic traumatic ulcers to prevent malignancy.