Mast cell concentration and skin wound contraction in rats treated with Brazilian pepper essential oil (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi)

• Published in: Acta cirurgica brasileira Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 289 - 295
• Main Authors: Estevão, Lígia Reis Moura, Medeiros, Juliana Pinto de, Simões, Ricardo Santos, Arantes, Rosa Maria Esteves, Rachid, Milene Alvarenga, Silva, Regildo Márcio Gonçalves da, Mendonça, Fábio de Souza, Evêncio-Neto, Joaquim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa em Cirurgia 01-04-2015
• Subjects: Anacardiaceae - chemistry; Animals; Brazil; Cell Count; Male; Mast Cells; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - pathology; Oils, Volatile - therapeutic use; Ointments; Phytotherapy; Phytotherapy - methods; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Rats; Reproducibility of Results; Skin; Skin - drug effects; Skin - injuries; Skin - pathology; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing; Wound Healing - drug effects; Brazil
• ISSN: 0102-8650; 1678-2674; 0102-8650
• DOI: 10.1590/S0102-865020150040000008

To evaluate wound contraction and the concentration of mast cells in skin wounds treated with 5% BPT essential oil-based ointment in rats.
Twenty rats, male, of adult age, were submitted to skin surgery on the right (RA) and left antimeres (LA) of the thoracic region. They were divided into two groups: control (RA - wounds receiving daily topical application of vaseline and lanolin) and treated (LA - wounds treated daily with the topical ointment). The skin region with wounds were collected at days 4, 7, 14 and 21 after surgery. Those were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and later processed for paraffin embedding. Sections were obtained and stained by H.E for histopathology analysis. The degree of epithelial contraction was measured and mast cell concentration were also evaluated.
The treated group showed higher mast cell concentrations (p<0.05) associated with increased contraction at day 7 and 14 respectively.
Ointment containing 5% Brazilian pepper tree oil increases mast cell concentration and promotes skin wound contraction in rats.