Accelerated wound healing with topical formulation based on Lobularia maritima essential oil: A rat model study

Boutheina Ben Akacha; Asma Mahmoudi; Miroslava Kačániová; Wirginia Kukula-Koch; Wojciech Koch; Rim Marrekchi; Mohamed Chamkha; Rania Ben Saad; Faical Brini; Wissem Mnif; Stefania Garzoli; Anis Ben Hsouna

doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106758

Accelerated wound healing with topical formulation based on Lobularia maritima essential oil: A rat model study

Fitoterapia. 2025 Sep:185:106758. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106758. Epub 2025 Jul 26.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Improvement, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, B.P "1177", Sfax 3018, Tunisia.
² Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, BP 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
³ Faculty of Horticulture, Institute of Horticulture, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, VIZJA University, Okopowa 59, Warszawa 01 043, Poland.
⁴ Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
⁵ Department of Food and Nutrition, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodzki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
⁶ Laboratory of Biochemistry, CHU Habib Bourguiba, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences at Bisha, University of Bisha, P.O. Box 199, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, Sapienza University, P. le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: stefania.garzoli@uniroma1.it.
⁹ Laboratory of Biotechnology and Plant Improvement, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, B.P "1177", Sfax 3018, Tunisia; Department of Environmental Sciences and Nutrition, Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.

PMID: 40721117
DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106758

Abstract

This study investigated the wound-healing effect of the essential oil of Lobularia maritima (LmEO) in a rat model. The animals were divided into three groups (n = 8): control (physiological saline), positive control (Centella cream), and LmEO cream treatment. The wound closure rates were measured over 14 days, and the healed wounds were histologically analyzed. The hydroxyproline and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were analyzed in the blood and tissue. The topical application of LmEO significantly improved wound healing and reduced the inflammatory process compared to the negative and positive control groups. On day 14, the LmEO-treated group achieved a wound contraction of 97 % ± 0.74 %, which was significantly higher than the control group (78.24 % ± 2.44 %) and the Centella cream group (85.62 % ± 1.68 %) (p < 0.05). The inflammatory protein content CRP was significantly lower in the group treated with LmEO, namely by 51.96 % compared to the negative control group and by 34.28 % compared to the Centella cream group (p < 0.0001). Histopathological analysis further supported improved re-epithelialization, organized collagen and fibroblasts, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration with LmEO treatment. In conclusion, LmEO, rich in bioactive oxygenated monoterpenes (>74.40 %), an effective agent for wound healing of the skin.

Keywords: Collagen; Essential oil; In vivo; Inflammation; Topical application; Wound healing.

MeSH terms

Administration, Topical
Animals
C-Reactive Protein / analysis
C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Hydroxyproline / metabolism
Male
Oils, Volatile* / pharmacology
Plant Oils* / pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Skin / drug effects
Wound Healing* / drug effects

Substances

Oils, Volatile
C-Reactive Protein
Hydroxyproline
Plant Oils