Background: Clinicians are exploring alternative treatments for nasal septum perforation since surgical treatment is challenging.
Objective: The effects of topical carvacrol on the healing of nasal septal perforation were investigated in an animal model.
Method: Twenty-one male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three equal groups. A 5-mm circular biopsy punch was used to perforate the nasal septum behind the columella. For 14 days, bilateral gelatin sponges impregnated with carvacrol in olive oil in group 1, and only olive oil in group 2 were placed. Perforation only was performed in the control group. Animals were then sacrificed, and their nasal septums were removed. The closure of the perforation was measured, and samples were examined histopathologically. MMP-9 reactivity was evaluated using the immunoperoxidase technique. Histopathologic parameters were scored as 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = strong.
Results: The septum perforation closure in the carvacrol group was statistically significant compared with the other groups (p < 0.001). Cartilage regeneration, connective tissue density, and MMP-9 immunoreactivity were significantly higher in the carvacrol group (p = 0.020, p = 0.009, and p = 0.008, respectively).
Conclusion: Topically administered carvacrol enhances wound healing in rabbit nasal septum perforation. It accelerated perforation closure by increasing cartilage regeneration, connective tissue, and MMP-9 expression.
Keywords: carvacrol; nasal injuries; nasal septal perforation; nasal septum; wound healing.