Momordica charantia (MC) is a traditional plant widely used since ancient times for wound healing. This study evaluated its potential effects on tendon healing. Adult Male Wistar albino rats (n=32, 8 rats in each group) were anesthetized, and their Achilles tendons were prepared for surgical procedures. Group 1 (Cont= control group) were not subjected to any surgery and were used as a control group for baseline values. Group 2 (PR= primary repair group) underwent primary repair (PR) with a monofilament suture after a full-thickness incision of the Achilles tendon. A full-thickness incision was also made to the Achilles tendon of Group 3 (CT=collagen tube administered group), followed by PR and collagen tube insertion. In Group 4 (MC= Momordica charantia-administered group), 1 ml of MC extract was applied locally on the collagen tube in addition to the surgical procedure applied to Group 3. The Achilles tendons were excised on the postoperative 40th day and examined stereologically, histologically, and bioinformatically. Data showed that the total volume of the collagen fibers was higher in MC and CT groups than in the PR group. The total volume of the tendon was decreased in MC and CT groups than in the Cont group. The ratios between the volumes of the collagen fibers and total tendon in the MC and CT groups were significantly different from PR; but not different from the Cont group. Additionally, MC improved tenoblastic activity, collagen production, and neovascularization. Bioinformatic interactions showed that the proteases of MC could trigger the signals playing a role on vasculogenesis, reducing inflammation, and contributing to tenoblast activation and collagen remodeling. MC extract ameliorates the healing of injured tendon and can provide satisfactory tendon repair. Further works are recommended to explore the healing capacity of MC.

中文翻译：

---

苦瓜增强大鼠肌腱愈合：一项实验研究。

苦瓜 (MC) 是一种自古以来广泛用于伤口愈合的传统植物。这项研究评估了它对肌腱愈合的潜在影响。将成年雄性Wistar白化大鼠（n=32，每组8只）麻醉，并准备其跟腱以进行外科手术。第 1 组（Cont=对照组）未接受任何手术，并用作基线值的对照组。第2组（PR=初次修复组）在跟腱全层切口后采用单丝缝合进行初次修复（PR）。还对第3组（CT=胶原管施用组）的跟腱进行全层切口，随后进行PR和胶原管插入。第4组（MC=苦瓜给药组）中，除了第3组的外科手术外，还在胶原管上局部涂抹1ml MC提取物。术后第40天切除跟腱并进行体视检查，组织学和生物信息学。数据显示MC和CT组的胶原纤维总体积高于PR组。MC 和 CT 组的肌腱总体积比 Cont 组减少。MC组和CT组胶原纤维体积与肌腱总体积的比值与PR组有显着差异；但与 Cont 组没有什么不同。此外，MC 还能改善成腱细胞活性、胶原蛋白生成和新血管形成。生物信息学相互作用表明，MC 的蛋白酶可以触发信号，从而在血管生成、减少炎症、促进成腱细胞活化和胶原蛋白重塑方面发挥作用。MC提取物可改善受伤肌腱的愈合，并能提供令人满意的肌腱修复。建议进一步开展工作来探索 MC 的治愈能力。