Abstract
Background:
Wound healing is a complex biological process that involves inflammation, cellular proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Efficient and prompt wound repair is critical for infection prevention and tissue integrity restoration. Snail mucin contains glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and growth factors that promote fibroblast migration and extracellular matrix formation and reduce inflammatory reactions. Alginate hydrogel, a biocompatible polysaccharide, creates an ideal wet microenvironment, promotes hemostasis, and aids in cellular infiltration and growth.

Aim:
This study aimed to investigate the effects of snail mucin 96%, alginate hydrogel, and their combination on cutaneous wound healing in a rat model.

Methods:
Sixty adult rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 12 each): negative control (no treatment), positive control (zinc oxide ointment 25%), alginate hydrogel 2%, snail mucin 96%, and mucin-containing alginate hydrogel 1% (Al-Mu). Wound contraction was measured on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21. Histopathological assessment was performed on days 7, 14, and 21. Ultrastructural investigation was also performed on day 21.

Results:
The snail mucin 96% and Al-Mu 1% groups showed considerably faster wound closure, better histological characteristics, and full healing by day 21. The average percentage of wound contraction was greater than that in the other groups (100%). Healing in the 2% alginate hydrogel and 25% zinc oxide-treated 25% groups was comparable but not as effective as that in the snail mucin-treated groups. The alginate hydrogel group had an average wound contraction rate of 98.78% ± 0.87%, while the zinc oxide-treated group had a rate of 95.38% ± 0.62. The no-treatment group had the lowest healing rate (71.58% ± 9.49%).

Conclusion:
Snail mucin, either alone or combined with alginate hydrogel, considerably improves wound healing, resulting in full closure and better tissue regeneration by day 21. The mucin-treated groups outperformed the alginate hydrogel and zinc oxide-treated groups, demonstrating the powerful healing effects of snail mucin. These findings show that snail mucin-based therapeutics could be a potential approach to accelerate wound healing and increase tissue restoration.

Key words: Cutaneous wound healing; Giant African Snail Mucin; Achatina fulica; Alginate Hydrogel; Rat.