Effect of a Growth Factor-Rich Platelet Lysate Gel with or without Uncaria tomentosa Extract on a Rat Model of Postmenopausal Vaginal Atrophy
The climacteric and menopausal transitions involve significant hormonal and physiological changes that impact womens health. During the postmenopausal period, various changes have been documented, including atrophy of the vaginal mucosa and a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, particularly affecting the vaginal mucosa, which contributes to symptomatic deterioration and reduced quality of life. In this study, a chitosan-based polymeric gel was used as a delivery matrix for natural compounds, such as growth factors derived from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and a hydroalcoholic extract of Uncaria tomentosa (UG), for intravaginal application in a menopausal animal model with vaginal atrophy. A 20% concentration of platelet lysate (PL), with or without UG, showed comparable outcomes to estrogen treatment, including restoration of the squamous epithelium, increasing the number of epithelial layers in the vaginal lining with histological evidence of absent chronic inflammatory infiltration. In contrast, 30% PL alone promoted epithelial repair without inflammation; however, when combined with UG, it failed to support tissue repair and was associated with chronic inflammation. Our findings suggest that a 20% platelet lysate formulation may effectively reverse vaginal atrophy without inducing adverse inflammatory responses. This formulation may represent a viable non-hormonal therapeutic option for managing postmenopausal vaginal atrophy to improve the clinical and histological characteristics of postmenopausal vaginal tissues.