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.

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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, β-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.

Context: Since antiquity, Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) fruit oil (PLFO) has been used as a remedy for primary health care such as burn treatment.Objective: This study assesses the healing effect of PLFO on CO2 laser fractional burn in a rat model.Materials and methods: The study was carried out on 18 adult male Wistar rats. A second-degree laser burn (wound area = 2.2 cm2) was inflicted in the dorsal region by the application of CO2 fractional laser within the following parameters; Energy level: 25 MJ and Depth level: 4. After applying laser, the rats were divided into three groups: the first was treated with saline solution, the second with a reference cream ‘CYTOL BASIC®’ (0.13 μg/mm2) and the third with PLFO (0.52 μL/mm2). All treatments were topically administered for eight days. The healing effect was assessed using macroscopic, histological and biochemical parameters.Results: After eight days, the higher percentage of wound healing contraction was observed among the PLFO-treated group (100%) followed by the ‘CYTOL BASIC®’ treated group (61.36%) and untreated group (32.27%). During the treatment, the PLFO-treated group showed less erythema, less crusting/scabbing, higher general wound appearance scores and a high content of collagen (220.67 ± 7.48 mg/g of tissue) than the other groups.Discussion and conclusion: The current study has shown, for the first time, the healing effect of PLFO on CO2 laser fractional burn. Their wound healing effect could be attributed to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

(2016) The evaluation of the healing proprieties of pumpkin and linseed oils on deep second-degree burns in rats, Pharmaceutical Biology, 54:4, 581-587, DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015 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 Õ '', pumpkin, and linseed-extracted oils (0.52 ml/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 Õ '' 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 Õ 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.