An investigation into the wound-healing properties of essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum linn.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Ocimum oil and two antibacterial preparations, Cicatrin (GlaxoWellcome) and Cetavlex (AstraZeneca), on the healing of full-thickness excisional and incisional wounds, created under anaesthesia, on the back of test and control groups of adult albino rabbits.


METHODS
Treatment was by topical application of the test substances onto the wound surface for 15 days. Observation continued for a further six days. Quantitative parameters of wound healing were determined daily. Swabs were taken from wound sites that appeared not to be healing for identification of wound contaminants and sensitivity tests.


RESULTS
There was a marked enhancement in the inflammatory and proliferative phases of wound healing in the rabbits treated with Ocimum oil, suggesting that the oil facilitated the healing process to a greater extent than the control and reference products. Wounds treated with Cetavlex showed no sign of healing for eight days but responded to Ocimum oil after a three-day wash-out period.


CONCLUSIONS
The essential oil Ocimum gratissimum can promote wound healing. However, large studies will need to be carried out using domestic pigs, followed by clinical trials on human wounds.


BACKGROUND
None.
Orafidiya
L O
LO
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, all at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Agbani
E O
EO
Abereoje
O A
OA
Awe
T
T
Abudu
A
A
Fakoya
F A
FA
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009355:Neomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009549:Nigeria; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009824:Ointments; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013912:Threonine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
D004338:Drug Combinations; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D009824:Ointments; D010938:Plant Oils; C042351:bacitracin, cysteine, glycine, neomycin, threonine drug combination; D001414:Bacitracin; D013912:Threonine; C080118:ocimum oil; D009355:Neomycin; D003545:Cysteine; D005998:Glycine