Ethnopharmacological relevance: Crocodile oil has been used by traditional physicians around the world to treat wound healing and inflammation. However, the scientific rationale and mechanism behind its use in vivo has not been fully researched.
Aims of the study: We mainly investigated the mechanism during crocodile oil treatment of up-regulated growth factor expression and anti-inflammatory on burn wound healing in rats.
Materials and methods: The moisture and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the skin of rats were analyzed in the first 14 days after burn and the changes of the structure of the skin tissues in the wound healing were studied by hematoxylin-eosin (H.E.) staining within 21 days after scald. The inflammatory factor on burn wound healing in rats was dected by ELISA kits and Q-PCR. the expression of a variety of growth factors (TGF-β1, VEGE-α, EGF) and PCNA in the skin tissue after burns was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The down-regulated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in the wound healing was confirmed by Western-blot analysis. In addition, TEM was used to observe the ultrastructure of scalded skin.
Results: This study showed that crocodile oil could significantly reduce the protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. And it was found that the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was down-regulated in the wound healing (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, crocodile oil can promote the expression of a variety of growth factors (TGF-β1, VEGE-α, EGF) and PCNA in the skin tissue after burns, and promote the repair of collagen fibers in the dermis, preventing the production of melanin and maintain the appearance of repaired skin.
Keywords: Anti-inflammation; Burn wound healing; Crocodylus siamensis; Essential oil.
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