The use of antioxidants in healing

BACKGROUND. Antioxidants enhance the healing of infected and noninfected wound OBJECTIVE. Studies were conducted to determine if the CRT components (vitamin E, sodium pyruvate, and specific fatty acids) could synergistically enhance healing. METHODS. In vitro and in vivo studies were used to assess the effect of various combinations of CRT components. RESULTS. CRT reduced oxidative damage to keratinocytes and mononcytes exposed to ultraviolet light and toxic chemicals and provided protection to human subjects exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. CRT dramatically facilitated healing of infected and noninfected wounds. In herpes-infected guinea pigs, CRT reduced vaginal viral lesion development, severity, and duration, thus facilitated healing of the lesions. CRT also reversed doxorubicin cytotoxicity in monocytes and reversed doxorubicin-impaired wound healing in vats. CONCLUSION. The CRT components worked synergistically to enhancing healing of injuries.