Modulation of tnf-alpha level on buccal wound healing of albino rats through cocoa powder extract

Cocoa powder has been used widely as a soothing rich chocolate drink, in baking and medical purposes for centuries. It is a rich source of polyphenols. The study was conducted on 48 Albino rats, randomly allocated into 4 groups. The control group was considered as group I in which rats were given normal saline along with standard diet while rats in the experimental group II, III and IV were given low, medium and high dosage of cocoa extract respectively dissolved in water by oral gavage daily along with standard rat chow diet. A 3mm surgical excisional wound was created on both left and right buccal mucosa of rats of all four groups with the help of punch-biopsy procedure. Tissue samples were obtained by sacrificing the rats on 3rd, 7th and 14th day after the surgical procedure. Gene expression of Tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] was evaluated through Real Time PCR [qPCR] and levels were measured quantitatively. The study concluded that cocoa powder extract in high dosage did have a positive effect in modulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines by decreasing gene expression of TNF-alpha and reducing the inflammatory process