Wound healing effect of Pistacia lentiscus L. seed oil: confirmation of its uses in Mediterranean traditional medicine / Efecto curativo de heridas del aceite de semilla de Pistacia lentiscus L: confirmación de sus usos en medicina tradicional mediterránea

In order to evaluate the potential of this formulation (P. lentiscus L. oil-based ointment) to heal wounds, experimental wounds were done on guinea pigs and efficiency was comparatively assessed against a reference ointment, Cicaderma®. Wound contraction was performed on days 5, 10 and 15. Tissue sections were also evaluated histopathological on days 7, 14 and 21. Results showed that for all days (5, 10 and 15), the highest wound contraction values were attained for the P. lentiscus oil-based ointment treated group with wound contraction values of 19.38, 55.8 and 77.11%, respectively, as compared to the reference drug Cicaderma® where contractions were 7.97%, 49.53% and 71.44%, respectively. Vehicle and negative control groups however showed no statistically significant wound healing activity on the excision wound model. These experimental studies revealed that the P. lentiscus oil-based ointment displays remarkable wound healing activity, in accordance with its use in traditional medicine.

Con el fin de evaluar el potencial de esta formulación (ungüento a base de aceite de P. lentiscus L.) para curar heridas, se realizaron heridas experimentales en cobayos y se evaluó comparativamente su eficacia respecto de un ungüento de referencia, Cicaderma®. La contracción de la herida se realizó los días 5, 10 y 15. Las secciones de tejido también se evaluaron histopatológicamente los días 7, 14 y 21. Los resultados mostraron que para todos los días (5, 10 y 15), se obtuvieron los valores más altos de contracción de la herida para el grupo tratado con ungüento a base de aceite de P. lentiscus con valores de contracción de la herida de 19.38, 55.8 y 77.11%, respectivamente, en comparación con el medicamento de referencia Cicaderma® en donde las contracciones fueron 7.97%, 49.53% y 71.44%, respectivamente. Sin embargo, los grupos de control de vehículo y negativo no mostraron actividad de curación de heridas estadísticamente significativa en el modelo de herida por escisión. Estos estudios experimentales revelaron que la pomada a base de aceite de P. lentiscus muestra una notable actividad de curación de heridas, de acuerdo con su uso en la medicina tradicional.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activities of seven Eucalyptus species essential oils leaves

BACKGROUND: In this paper, we have studied the essential oils chemical composition of the leaves of seven Eucalyptus species developed in Tunisia. Eucalyptus leaves were picked from trees growing in different arboretums in Tunisia. Choucha and Mrifeg arboretums located in Sedjnene, region of Bizerte (Choucha: E. maideni, E. astrengens et E. cinerea; Mrifeg : E. leucoxylon), Korbous arboretums located in the region of Nabeul, North East Tunisia with sub-humid bioclimate, (E. lehmani), Souiniet-Ain Drahem arboretum located in region of Jendouba (E. sideroxylon, E. bicostata). Essential oils were individually tested against a large panel of microorganisms includingStaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6539), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC29212), Listeria ivanovii (RBL 30), Bacillus cereus (ATCC11778). RESULTS: The yield of essential oils ranged from 1.2% to 3% (w/w) for the different Eucalyptus species. All essential oils contain α-pinene, 1,8-cineol and pinocarveol-trans for all Eucalyptus species studied. The 1,8-cineol was the major compound in all species (49.07 to 83.59%). Diameter of inhibition zone of essential oils of Eucalyptus species varied from 10 to 29 mm. The largest zone of inhibition was obtained for Bacillus cereus (E. astrengens) and the lowest for Staphylococcus aureus (E. cinerea). The essential oils from E. maideni, E. astrengens, E. cinerea (arboretum of Bizerte), E. bicostata(arboretum of Aindraham) showed the highest antibacterial activity against Listeria ivanovii and Bacillus cereus. CONCLUSION: The major constituents of Eucalyptus leaves essential oils are 1,8-cineol (49.07 to 83.59%) and α-pinene (1.27 to 26.35%). The essential oils from E. maideni, E. astrengens, E. cinerea, E. bicostatashowed the highest antibacterial activity against Listeria ivanovii and Bacillus cereus, they may have potential applications in food and pharmaceutical products.