Optimizing Oral Drop Formulations of Sand Sea Cucumber (Holothuria Scabra) and Red Dragon Fruit Peel (Hylocereus Polyrhizus) for Improved Postoperative Healing in Tongue Cancer Patients (Preliminary Study)

This study analyzed the effectiveness of oral drops containing Holothuria scabra extract and Hylocereus polyrhizus peel at concentrations of 25%, 30%, and 35% for accelerating healing of post-excision stage 1 tongue cancer wounds in the tongue of rats with pre-clinical observations of wound closure and histopathology by observing fibroblast cells, neutrophils, and neocapillarization. A total of 45 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, receiving either the test oral drops (25%, 30%, or 35%), a positive control (tetrachlorodecaoxide), or a negative control (no treatment). All rats were induced with a 2% DMBA compound on the lateral tongue to induce tongue cancer over 4 w. After tumour formation, the excised lesions were treated with oral drops and wound healing was monitored on days 3, 7, and 14 post-treatment, using macroscopic observation and histopathological examination. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney post hoc tests, with significance set at p<0.05. Oral drops containing combined extracts of Holothuria scabra and Hylocereus polyrhizus peel at 25%, 30%, and 35% showed similar effectiveness to the positive control in promoting wound healing, according to the reduction of length, width, and depth of the wound and histopathologically. Combining Holothuria scabra extract and Hylocereus polyrhizus peel in oral drop formulations at 25%, 30%, and 35% concentrations effectively accelerates healing of post-excision tongue cancer wounds. Among these, the 25% concentration is recommended for its efficacy and potential cost-effectiveness balance.