The Wound Healing and Antibacterial Activity of Five Ethnomedical Calophyllum inophyllum Oils: An Alternative Therapeutic Strategy to Treat Infected Wounds

Abstract

Background Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Calophyllaceae) is an evergreen tree ethno-medically used along the seashores and islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially in Polynesia. Oil extracted from the seeds is traditionally used topically to treat a wide range of skin injuries from burn, scar and infected wounds to skin diseases such as dermatosis, urticaria and eczema. However, very few scientific studies reported and quantified the therapeutic properties of Calophyllum inophyllum oil (CIO). In this work, five CIO from Indonesia (CIO1), Tahiti (CIO2, 3), Fiji islands (CIO4) and New Caledonia (CIO5) were studied and their cytotoxic, wound healing, and antibacterial properties were presented in order to provide a scientific support to their traditional use and verify their safety.MethodsThe safety of the five CIO was ascertained using the Alamar blue assay on human keratinocyte cells. CIO wound healing properties were determined using the scratch test assay on human keratinocyte cells. CIO-stimulated antibacterial innate immune response was evaluated using ELISA by measuring β defensin-2 release in human derivative macrophage cells. CIO antibacterial activity was tested using oilogramme against twenty aerobic Gram- bacteria species, twenty aerobic Gram+ bacteria species, including a multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain and two anaerobic Gram+ bacteria species e.g. Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacterium granulosum. To detect polarity profile of the components responsible of the antibacterial activity, we performed bioautography against a Staphylococcus aureus strain.ResultsBased on Alamar Blue assay, we showed that CIO can be safely used on keratinocyte cells between 2.7% and 11.2% depending on CIO origin. Concerning the healing activity, all the CIO tested accelerated in vitro wound closure, the healing factor being 1.3 to 2.1 higher compared to control when keratinocytes were incubated after scratch with CIO at 0.1%. Furthermore, our results showed that CIO exhibit two distinct antibacterial effects: one against Gram+ bacteria by direct inhibition of mitotic growth and another potent effect against Gram- bacteria due to increased release of β-defensin 2 peptide by macrophages. Interestingly, the needed concentrations of CIO to inhibit bacteria growth and to promote wound healing are lower than concentrations exhibiting cytotoxic effects on keratinocyte cells. Finally, we performed bioautography assay against Staphylococcus aureus to determine polarity profile of the components responsible for CIO antibacterial activity. Our results showed for the five tested CIO that components responsible of the bacterial growth inhibition are the more polar one on the TLC chromatographic profile and are contained in the resinous fraction of the oil.ConclusionsThis study was conducted to evaluate cytotoxicity, wound healing and antibacterial properties of five CIO traditionally used to treat infected wounds. Using cell and bacteria cultures, we confirmed the pharmacological effects of CIO as wound he...

Biological Activity of Polynesian Calophyllum inophyllum Oil Extract on Human Skin Cells

“…Recently, it has been reported that Tamanu oil enhanced the wound closure of a breach made on a monolayer of HaCaT cells [15]. In this study, Tamanu oil from Polynesia diluted with olive oil exhibited the highest wound closure compared to other Tamanu oils from Indonesia, the Fiji Islands, and New Caledonia.…”

“…In addition to independent long-term traditional uses, the effectiveness of "Tamanu oil" was also proven by in vivo studies performed on hospitalized patients showing that its topical application on resistant wounds led to significant diminution of scars and impressive wound healing including postsurgical treatments [10,11]. Literature data revealed interesting biological activity related to skin affections and Tamanu oil content beneficial effects such as antibacterial [12], antifungal [13], antiinflammatory [14], and wound healing [15]. Such biological properties may explain the use of Tamanu oil as an active cosmetic ingredient Abstract !…”

Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology

“…Calophyllum (Calophyllum inophyllum L., Calophyllaceae) is an evergreen tree found on the seashores and islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Oil obtained from the seeds, also called Tamanu oil, is traditionally used dermally in French Polynesia to treat skin injuries (burns, scars, and infected wounds) and diseases (dermatosis, urticaria, and eczema; Ansel et al, ; Léguillier et al, ). In Vietnam, the oil has been used as a traditional medicine to treat burns, skin‐related and rheumatic diseases, and insomnia (Nguyen et al, ).…”

Direct Calophyllum oil extraction and resin separation with a binary solvent of n-hexane and methanol mixture

“…Calophyllum seeds have also been shown to contain many other chemical compounds, including inophyllum A-E, calophyllic acid, coumarins, phenols, polyphenols, triterpenoids, and flavonoids [16,[19][20][21][22][23]. As a result, the oil produced from Calophyllum seeds is widely used as a traditional medicine and in cosmetics, and as a lamp oil.…”