Effect of volatile oil from Blumea Balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves on wound healing in mice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of violate oil from Blumea Balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves (BB oil) on wound healing in mice. METHODS: Undiluted BB oil and its diluted solutions with olive oil to 1/5 and 1/10 to yield BB oil, and BB oil(1/10) were applied to the wounded skin before wound healing conditions were assessed by healing rate, histopathology, and contents of collagen, hydroxyproline, and Neuropeptide Substance P (SP). All above results were compared with the efficacies of the control, pure olive oil, basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF), and cream of Jing Wan Hong (JWH). RESULTS: BB oil(1/5) and BB oil(1/10) improved wound contraction and closure. Histopathology study further confirmed a desirable histological organization of wound tissues. BB oil(1/5) and BB oil(1/10) reduced the number of inflammatory cells, increased wound-healing rates, and significantly increased the hydroxyproline content. Both BB oil(1/5) and BB oil(1/10) improved formation of collagen, and reduced the frequency of fibroblasts. Moreover, BB oil(1/5) and BB oil(1/10) markedly promoted SP expression. However, undiluted BB oil may induce skin thickening and hardening, inhibite collagen synthesis and delay complete skin wound healing. CONCLUSION: The BB oil(1/5) and BB oil(1/10) promoted capillary regeneration, blood circulation, collagen deposition, granular tissue formation, epithelial deposition, and wound contraction. The mechanism underlying the action might be related to induction of SP secretion, and the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal cells. (C) 2014 JTCM. All rights reserved.