Povidone-iodine has long been widely recognized as a reliable antiseptic for wounds. However, a study from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has uncovered a finding that may make many people think twice: saliva\u2014a fluid often taken for granted and even associated with being \u201cdirty\u201d\u2014was found to heal skin wounds faster than 10% povidone-iodine.\nThe study was conducted by drg. Ivan Arie Wahyudi, M.Kes., Ph.D., together with two students from the Dental Medicine Education Program at the Faculty of Dentistry, UGM, Malida Magista and Merry Angel. Using Sprague Dawley rats as experimental subjects, the researchers observed the animals for 21 days and compared three wound-treatment substances\u2014saliva, 10% povidone-iodine, and 0.9% NaCl solution\u2014to determine which was most effective in promoting skin wound healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saliva is more than just a lubricating fluid in the mouth. It contains several active proteins with important biological functions, one of which is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), a growth factor that promotes cell proliferation (the formation of new cells), cell differentiation (cell maturation), and cell migration (movement of cells toward damaged areas). These three processes are key components of wound healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to EGF, saliva contains Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), immunoglobulin A, lysozyme, and lactoperoxidase\u2014components with antibacterial and antiviral properties. This means that saliva may not only accelerate tissue repair but also help protect wounds against infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Previous research has shown that wounds inside the oral cavity heal faster than wounds on the skin. Scientists have suspected that saliva is one of the major factors behind this phenomenon. The study by drg. Ivan and his team sought to determine whether a similar benefit could occur in cutaneous wounds treated directly with saliva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The researchers created small excisional wounds using a 2-mm-diameter punch biopsy on the backs of 30 rats, which were divided into three treatment groups. Each group received a different treatment: saliva, 10% povidone-iodine, or 0.9% NaCl. The wounds were evaluated clinically and histologically\u2014meaning they were examined both directly and under a microscope\u2014on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 after injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results were quite clear. On the first day, none of the groups had yet developed new epithelial tissue, which was expected because the body was still in the early inflammatory phase. By the third day, the saliva group began to show thicker epithelial cell formation than the other two groups. The povidone-iodine group was the slowest to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The peak occurred on day 7, when epithelial thickness reached its highest point across all groups. The data showed that the saliva group had an average epithelial thickness of 81.61 micrometers, compared with 75.53 micrometers in the NaCl group and only 59.36 micrometers in the povidone-iodine group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By days 14 and 21, the epithelial tissue began to become thinner and more organized\u2014a sign that remodelling, or tissue maturation, was taking place. On day 21, the saliva group displayed the thinnest and most organized epithelium, reflecting the most complete skin reconstruction. In contrast, the povidone-iodine group still showed thicker and less organized epithelial tissue, indicating that healing was not yet complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another equally interesting finding was that 0.9% NaCl solution, an inexpensive and readily available physiological saline solution, was more effective at promoting wound healing than 10% povidone-iodine. This challenges a common wound-care practice that has been widely used in many settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The physiological explanation is fairly straightforward. NaCl has a balanced composition similar to body fluids, thereby creating a moist environment around the wound. This moist environment promotes the formation of the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, as well as angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels\u2014two important processes in wound healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although povidone-iodine is effective as an antiseptic, it can also be irritating. Repeated use may interfere with tissue granulation and reduce the strength of the skin in the wound area. These findings are consistent with previous studies questioning the effectiveness of povidone-iodine as a long-term wound-care agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Statistically, the differences among the three groups did not reach significance (p > 0.05) based on the Kruskal-Wallis test. However, clinically and histologically, the patterns of difference were consistent and directional: saliva performed best, followed by NaCl, while povidone-iodine ranked last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This study opens up an intriguing possibility. If the EGF contained in saliva is confirmed to accelerate skin wound healing, isolating and developing EGF from saliva could potentially serve as the basis for a new generation of wound-healing therapies derived from a natural biological source within the human body itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSaliva can accelerate wound healing, so in the future, saliva and its EGF content may become a new source of medication for wound healing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This was the conclusion written by the researchers in their paper. The statement may sound simple, but its implications are broad: the human body may contain more natural healing potential than we have previously realized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, many stages remain before this finding can be applied clinically to humans. Larger-scale studies, safety assessments, and human trials are still required. For now, however, an old question that has often been overlooked\u2014why do wounds inside the mouth heal faster?\u2014is finally beginning to receive a more scientific answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Authors: Achmad Zam Zam Aghasy, DDS, M.Kes.; Hazra Alifia Muharam<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo: Freepik<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Selama ini, povidon-iodin dikenal luas sebagai antiseptik andalan untuk luka. Tapi sebuah penelitian dari Fakultas Kedokteran Gigi Universitas Gadjah Mada menemukan fakta yang membuat banyak orang berpikir ulang: air liur \u2014 cairan yang selama ini dianggap biasa saja, bahkan sering dikaitkan dengan kesan “kotor” \u2014 ternyata mampu menyembuhkan luka kulit lebih cepat dibandingkan povidon-iodin 10%. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":615,"featured_media":20593,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[359,136],"tags":[302,307,289,291,297],"class_list":["post-20590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artikel","category-berita-terbaru","tag-sdg-12-konsumsi-dan-produksi-yang-bertanggung-jawab","tag-sdg-17-kemitraan-untuk-mencapai-tujuan","tag-sdg-3-kesehatan-dan-kesejahteraan-yang-baik","tag-sdg-4-pendidikan-berkualitas","tag-sdg-9-industri-inovasi-dan-infrastruktur"],"gutentor_comment":0,"yoast_head":"\n