Topical application of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® modifies the healing of colon anastomosis in rats

Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS) offered as a hemostatic agent is a standardized herbal extract obtained from five different plants. The effects of ABS on colonic anastomosis are unknown. This study was designed to assess potential effects on the anastomosis of left colon in an experimental animal model. Thirtytwo male Wistar albino rats were randomized into two groups and subjected to colon anastomosis. The study group subjected to colon anastomosis with topical application of ABS to control of mucosal bleeding at the cut ends of the colon, and the control group subjected to colon anastomosis only. The rats were killed 3 and 7 days postoperatively. Four types of assessment were performed: bursting pressure, bursting wall tension, histopathology, and biochemical analysis. Compared to the control group, ABS used rats displayed a higher bursting pressure (P<0.05) and anastomotic hydroxyproline content (P<0.05). The use of ABS leads to a significant decrease in malondealdehyde levels (P<0.05) and increase in paraoxonase activity (P<0.05) at both time points. Histopathological analysis revealed that the use of ABS improves anastomotic healing in terms of reepithelialization, increased neovascularization, diminished ischemic necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration to muscle layer. Topical application of ABS to control of mucosal bleeding at the cut ends of the colon significantly improve the anastomotic wound healing by means of increasing mechanical strength and amount of tissue HPL level.