Topical application of Pinus seed oil enhances third-degree burn wound healing in rats

Burn injuries cause significant global morbidity and mortality, necessitating novel, effective treatments that minimize complications and accelerate healing. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of topical 5% seed oils from Pinus gerardiana and Pinus koraiensis, formulated in carboxymethyl cellulose gel, for third-degree burn wound repair in a rat model.

Pine seed oils were extracted via cold pressing and their chemical profiles characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats with experimentally induced deep burn wounds were randomized into five groups: control (no treatment), base gel, 1% silver sulfadiazine ointment, 5% P. gerardiana seed oil gel, and 5% P. koraiensis seed oil gel. Macroscopic wound progression was evaluated on days 14 and 21 post-burn. Wound closure percentages, histopathological parameters (re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, granulation tissue, fibroblast maturation), and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA] and reactive oxygen species [ROS]) were quantified.

GC-MS profiling identified predominant fatty acids including linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acid in both pine oils. Treatment with 5% P. gerardiana and P. koraiensis significantly enhanced wound closure, re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, granulation tissue formation, and fibroblast maturation by day 21 relative to control and base gel groups (p < 0.05). Both oils also significantly reduced MDA levels, indicating decreased lipid peroxidation, outperforming silver sulfadiazine in some parameters.

Topical application of Pinus gerardiana and Pinus koraiensis seed oils accelerates burn wound healing potentially via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These findings suggest promising adjuvant therapies for burn management deserving further molecular and clinical exploration.