Accelerated healing by topical administration of Salvia officinalis essential oil on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus infected wound model

Abstract

BackgroundSalvia officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) is known to have antibacterial properties possibly conducive to the healing process of infected wounds. PurposeThe present study aimed to evaluate the effects of an ointment containing Salvia officinalis essential oil (SOO) on an infected wound model. MethodsEssential oil hydrodistillated from the dried leaves of the plant was analyzed by GC-FID and GC–MS. After creating two full-thickness cutaneous wounds, mice were classified into four groups, control, and animals treated with 2 % mupirocin® (standard positive drug), and 2 % and 4 % (w/w) of SOO. In order to evaluate the effects of SOO on the wound healing phases, the expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclin-D1, Bcl-2, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry analysis, tissue total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were further assessed in all groups. ResultsConcerning essential oil, the main compounds were found to be cis-thujone (26.8 %), camphor (16.4 %), trans-thujone (14.1 %) and 1,8-cineole (10.8 %). Our findings showed that the topical application of SOO was able to shorten the inflammatory phase and accelerate the cellular proliferation, re-vascularization, collagen deposition and re-epithelialization in comparison to the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, increased mRNA levels of FGF-2 and VEGF, and up-regulation of cyclin-D1 and Bcl-2 were observed following the topical application of SOO compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were reduced in animals treated with SOO on days 3, 7 and 14 (p < 0.05). ConclusionsAdministration of SOO increased the TAC level and reduced the MDA content and levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. It is concluded that SOO is able to accelerate the wound healing process by regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and antioxidant properties.