Abstract
BackgroundThe use of medicinal plants and their derivatives is increasing, and approximately one-third of all traditional herbal medicines are intended for wound treatment. Natural products used in these treatments include vegetable oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids. Once in contact with an ulcerative surface, the oil reaches the blood and lymphatic vessels, thus eliciting systemic effects.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the local and possible systemic effects of essential fatty acids (sunflower oil) applied topically to rat wounds.MethodsCutaneous punch wounds (6 mm) were produced on the dorsa of 30 rats. Saline (SS), mineral oil (MO) or essential fatty acid (EFA) solutions were applied topically. Healing was evaluated after 2, 4 and 10 days (n = 5 per group) by visual and histological/morphometric examination, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, and cytokine and growth factor quantification in the scar tissue (real-time PCR) and in serum (ELISA).ResultsMO/EFA-treated animals had higher IGF-1, leptin, IL-6 and IFN-γ mRNA expression and lower serum IL-6 levels than the control (SS/MO) animals. SHG analysis showed no difference in collagen density between the animals treated with MO and EFA.ConclusionEFA treatment induces topical (observed by local IGF-1, leptin, IL-6 and IFN-γ production) and systemic effects, lowering IL-6 levels in the serum. As the oil is widely used to shorten ulcer healing time, studies are needed to evaluate the treatment safety and possible undesired effects.
Highlights
The wound healing process encompasses four highly integrated and overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling [1]
second harmonic generation (SHG) analysis showed no difference in collagen density between the animals treated with mineral oil (MO) and essential fatty acids (EFAs)
To follow the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) recommendations for using the lowest possible number of animals per group and to evaluate the systemic action of topically applied EFA oil (Saniplan, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil), we used a model in which the control group animals received two treatments [10]: saline solution as a control and mineral oil (MO) as a treatment
Summary
The wound healing process encompasses four highly integrated and overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling [1]. Almost 65% of the world’s population has used plants as medicinal agents in primary healthcare modalities, and approximately one-third of all traditional herbal medicines are intended for treating wounds or skin disorders compared with only 1–3% of modern drugs [2]. Oils are mainly used for skin healing purposes, especially those rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), because these compounds (such as linoleic acid) are necessary for maintaining epidermal integrity and the skin’s water barrier [6]. The use of medicinal plants and their derivatives is increasing, and approximately one-third of all traditional herbal medicines are intended for wound treatment. Natural products used in these treatments include vegetable oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids. Once in contact with an ulcerative surface, the oil reaches the blood and lymphatic vessels, eliciting systemic effects
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