The Effect of Prickly Pear, Pumpkin, and Linseed Oils on Biological Mediators of Acute Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Markers.

Medicinal plants have been used as a source of effective and safe alternative therapeutic agents for various ailments including inflammation. In fact, the aim of this study is to assess the topical anti-inflammatory and antioxidative potential effects of Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), Linum usitatissimum (linseed), and Opuntia ficus indica (prickly pear) oils on acute inflammation using carrageenan-induced paw edema model. The study was conducted on 36 rats splitted in 6 groups: a normal control group and 5 carrageenan-treated groups (1%), each treated with either a normal saline, the reference drug ("Inflocine®" 2 mg/paw), pumpkin, linseed, or prickly pear oils (25 µl/paw). The response to these treatments was mainly assessed by the measuring of edema paw size, hematological and biochemical analysis, oxidative stress testing, and histological study. All the studied seed oils especially prickly pear oil proved to be efficient in treating acute inflammation. The oil-treated groups revealed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the clinical signs of inflammation, hematological parameters (white blood cells and platelets), concentrations of CRP and fibrinogen, and congestion compared to the normal saline-treated group. The results also showed that the tested oils, endowed with a radical scavenging ability, could significantly increase the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in carrageenan-treated skin by reducing the lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (TBARS, AOPP). The anti-inflammatory effect of the tested oils was closely related to both their antioxidant properties as well as their bioactive compounds (polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and phytosterols). For the first time, the findings of the current study highlight the "in vivo" anti-inflammatory property of pumpkin, linseed, and prickly pear oils on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation by regulating inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress markers.

Wound Healing Effect of Lawsonia inermis.

BACKGROUND: Lawsonia inermis-extracted oil is known for therapeutic properties, especially wound healing. This study assesses the potential of this oil for wound healing in a rat model. METHODOLOGY: To assess the potential of L. inermis-extracted oil for wound healing, phytochemical, antibacterial, and antioxidant analyses were conducted. Uniform wound excision was induced on the dorsum of randomly selected rats divided into 3 groups cleaned and treated with saline solution (control), Cicaflora (reference), and L. inermisoil. Biopsies performed after healing were histologically assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The quality and content of the fatty acids in the oil were determined. Results showed a high content of bioactive components inducing an efficient wound healing effect determined by an in vivo study. Histological and chromatic assessment findings revealed healing in the oil-treated group but not in the untreated group, a full reepithelialization with reappearance of skin appendages and well-organized collagen fibers without any inflammatory cells. This might be due to a synergistic effect of the phytoconstituents present in the oil.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ethanol and aqueous extracts from Urtica urens.

CONTEXT: Urtica urens L. (Urticaceae) is an important and commonly used plant for its medicinal and pharmacological properties. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the leaves of Urtica urens in ethanol (EtOH) and water (WA) solvents, employing standard analytical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin content of Urtica urens leaves were determined, after their extraction, using EtOH (70%) and WA extracts as well as the antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, ß-carotene and FRAP) and the antibacterial (via the method of dilution tests) activities of EtOH and WA extracts. RESULTS: The 70% EtOH of Urtica urens showed the highest values of total phenolic (31.41 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (6.81 mg quercetin/g DW), tannin (8.29 mg GAE/g DW) and TEAC (560 mmol Trolox/g DW), compared to the WA. The results of DPPH for EtOH (95.56%) were higher than that of WA (64.56%) at a concentration of 40 mg/L. The extracts displayed a FRAP 106.23 for EtOH and 30.55 µmol Fe(II)/g DW for WA. The results clearly indicated that EtOH was the strongest radical scavenger (IC50 = 245.65 ± 10.2 µg/mL). Ethanol was the most effective with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) < 250 µg/mL. WA has no antibacterial activity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results indicate that leaves of Urtica urens could be used as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Chemical composition, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Urtica urens L. leaves.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of Urtica urens L.(Uu) as well as its anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan (CARR)-induced paw oedema in rats. METHODS: The leaves were extracted using ethanol (EtOH) and water. The extracts were analysed for proximate composition and antioxidant activity using standard chemical analysis methods. RESULTS: The proximate analysis showed that Uu leaves contained appreciable percentages of dry mass, ashes, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, sugars, anthocyanin, carotenoid and fibre. Results showed that EtOH extract contained the highest amount of total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, ortho-diphenols and flavonols. It decreased the paw oedema after CARR administration, and ameliorated the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the malondialdehyde (MDA). CONCLUSIONS: Uu displayed a high potential as a natural source of minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidant properties. EtOH extract exhibited a significant inhibition against CARR-induced inflammation.

Evaluation of Wound Healing Properties of Grape Seed, Sesame, and Fenugreek Oils.

Background. Medicinal plants have proved at all times to be a powerful remedy for health care. Accordingly, grape seed, sesame, and fenugreek extracted oils with pharmacological properties are investigated as wound treatments. This study assesses the potential of our oils for healing wounds induced on rats. Methods. Phytochemical analyses of oils have involved: quality value, polyphenol, chlorophylls, carotene, and fatty acids. Antibacterial activity was carried out. Antioxidant activity was evaluated: the scavenging effect on DPPH radicals, the reducing power, and ß-carotene discoloration. Uniform wound excision was induced on rats dorsum randomly divided into five groups: groups treated with "CICAFLORA®" and tested oils and untreated one. The posthealing biopsies were histologically assessed. Results. Wound biopsies treated with oils showed the best tissue regeneration compared to control groups. Groups treated with our oils and "CICAFLORA" had higher wound contraction percentage. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in oils act as inflammatory mediators increasing neovascularization, extracellular remodeling, migration, and cell differentiation. Wound healing effect was attributed to antibacterial and antioxidant synergy. Conclusion. According to findings, oils showed better activity in wound healing compared to "CICAFLORA" due to a phytoconstituents synergy. However, clinical trials on humans are necessary to confirm efficacy on human pathology.

In Vivo Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Pistacia lentiscus Fruit Oil and Its Effects on Oxidative Stress.

In order to find new topical anti-inflammatory agents, we had recourse to a medicinal plant. This work was designed to determine the topical anti-inflammatory effect of Pistacia lentiscus fruit oil (PLFO), using carrageenan-induced paw edema rat model, and to evaluate its effects on oxidative stress. The topical anti-inflammatory activity of PLFO was compared to Inflocine® and estimated by measuring the diameter of paw edema, for 5 hours at a 1-hour interval. After that the rats were scarified and the inflamed paw tissue was removed for the exploration of some parameters of oxidative stress and histopathology. PLFO showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity in comparison with the Inflocine. The percentages of edema inhibition were 70% and % 51.5% (p < 0.01), respectively, after five hours. The treatment with PLFO and Inflocine led to significant increases (p ≤ 0.05) in the activities of CAT, SOD, and GPX and significant decreases in the MDA level and AOPP activity in the paw tissue after Carr injection, in comparison with the Carr group. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that PLFO might accelerate the development of new drugs which could be used scientifically as a source for natural health products in the treatment of topical inflammation.

The evaluation of the healing proprieties of pumpkin and linseed oils on deep second-degree burns in rats.

CONTEXT: Medicinal plants have been recognized as useful remedies for primary health care. Accordingly, Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae) (pumpkin) and Linum usitatissimum (L.) Griesb. (Linaceae) (linseed) which have extracted oil with prominent pharmacological properties are investigated as possible burn healing treatments. OBJECTIVE: The present study assesses the healing potential of pumpkin and linseed extracted oils on rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Uniform deep second-degree burns were induced on the dorsum of 24 rats, randomly divided into four groups. The burns were measured, photographed, and topically treated with saline solution, "Cytol Centella®", pumpkin, and linseed-extracted oils (0.52 µl/mm(2) of oil) each 2 d (up until day 33). Post-burning of the 33rd day, biopsies were histologically assessed. RESULTS: At the end of the experiment, the rat groups treated with linseed, pumpkin oils, and "Cytol Centella®" had higher percentage of wound contraction (98.68, 96.71, and 92.54%, respectively) than the control group (58.38%). Wound biopsies from rats treated with extracted oils showed the best tissue regeneration proprieties as compared with the other groups. The histomorphometric analysis of biopsies revealed that linseed oil could significantly stimulate angiogenesis (55.6% ± 7.25). The pumpkin oil, and Cytol Centella® could significantly increase the collagen production 64.9% ± 5.94, and 61.2% ± 7.36, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Overall, our study has given for the first time scientific evidence of the healing efficiency of pumpkin and linseed oils on burn-wounds.