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

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.