MMP-8, IL-1β, and PGE2 in Saliva as Biomarkers of Inflammation and Pain During the Healing Process of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Wounds in Rats: A Systematic Review

Background: Salivary biomarkers can be used to monitor post-surgical inflammation in the oral and maxillofacial. This approach offers a non-invasive and an easy method for monitoring patient recovery compared to traditional clinical examinations or blood tests. MMP-8, IL-1β, and PGE2 have important roles and a positive feedback to encourage and regulate tissue remodeling, inflammatory processes, and pain modulation especially in pathological conditions. This review analyzed the dynamics of these three biomarkers in rat models during the stages of oral–maxillofacial wound healing. Objective: To synthesize evidence on salivary levels of MMP-8, IL-1β, and PGE2 and their relationships with indicators of pain and inflammation during healing of oral–maxillofacial surgical wounds in rats. Methods: This systematic review follows PRISMA 2020. The primary search is in Scopus,Ppubmed, and Science Direct (search date:2015 T0 OCTOBER 2025) Inclusion criteria: experimental rat studies involving oral/maxillofacial surgery that report salivary MMP-8, IL-1β, and/or PGE2 at ≥1 postoperative time point. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and the SYRCLE's tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Narrative synthesis and/or random-effects meta-analysis will be used where homogeneity allows. Main Results: Records identified through PubMed 112 study, Science Direct 96 study , Scopus 123 study , total study identified 331. Duplicates removed 53 study, Records screened 278 study, Records excluded 226 study, Full-text articles assessed 52, Full-text articles excluded (with reasons) 45, Studies included in qualitative synthesis 7 Conclusion: Salivary MMP-8, IL-1β, and PGE2 show promise as non-invasive indicators for monitoring postoperative inflammation and pain in rat models. However, methodological variability needs standardization.