Natural cocoa ingestion promotes wound healing in rats with diabetes by accelerated re-epithelialization and enhanced IGF-1 expression

  • Valerie A A Dordoye Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Bismarck Afedo Hottor Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Kevin Kofi Adutwum-Ofosu Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Richard Michael Blay Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Rashid Abdul Adams Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Samuel Mensah Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • John Ahenkorah Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Paul Apomvoese Atiah Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Sethina Akweley Adjetey Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Nii Koney-Kwaku Koney Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Benjamin Arko-Boham Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Frederick Kwaku Addai Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2026.7.9.1.1520-1530
Keywords: Diabetes-induced wounds, natural cocoa, IGF-1 expression, hyperglycemia, re-epithelialization

Abstract

Background: Diabetic wounds (DWs) are difficult to manage due to delayed healing, increasing the risk of infection and limb amputation. Hyperglycemia impairs re-epithelialization and dermal cell proliferation, both key processes in wound closure. The persistent production of
advanced glycation end products (AGEs) further inhibits healing in diabetes. Cocoa is rich in polyphenols, offers antioxidants, antiinflammatory, and anti-glycemic properties that may support DW healing.
Aim: This study investigated the potential of natural cocoa powder in enhancing wound healing in experimentally streptozotocin (STZ)nicotinamide- induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.
Methods: T2DM was induced in rats using nicotinamide and STZ. Rats with diabetes were assigned to a cocoa-treated group (DC) and an untreated group (DU); rats without diabetes served as controls (C). Aqueous 2% natural cocoa was administered to the DC group for 6 weeks. Full-thickness dorsal wounds were created, and biopsies were taken on days 0, 3, 7, and 14. Wound contraction, epidermal thickness, and dermal cell counts were assessed histologically. IGF-1 expression was also evaluated via immunohistochemistry.
Conclusion: Cocoa-treated rats showed significantly enhanced wound contraction, thicker epidermis, and higher dermal cell counts. IGF-1 expression markedly increased in DC, compared to the control group.

Author Biographies

Bismarck Afedo Hottor, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Kevin Kofi Adutwum-Ofosu, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Richard Michael Blay, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Rashid Abdul Adams, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Samuel Mensah, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
John Ahenkorah, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Paul Apomvoese Atiah, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Sethina Akweley Adjetey, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Nii Koney-Kwaku Koney, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Benjamin Arko-Boham, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Frederick Kwaku Addai, Department of Anatomy, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

 

 
Published
2026-07-09
Issue
Vol 9 No 1 (2026): Health Sciences Investigations (HSI)  Journal volume 9, Issue 1.
Section
Original Research Article