title: The essential oil of Croton zehntneri and trans-anethole improves cutaneous wound healing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Croton zehntneri is a Euphorbiaceae species native to northeastern Brazil, where teas and beverages made from Croton zehntneri leaves are used as healing agents. To our knowledge, there is no experimental study supporting this claim of pharmacological activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-thickness excisional wounds were made in the left and right sides of the dorsum of anesthetised Swiss mice, and a topical pharmaceutical formulation, developed by including essential oil extracted from the leaves of Croton zehntneri (2% and 20% EOCz) in pluronic-127 (PF-127), was administered to mice twice daily for 15 days post-wounding. To evaluate the contribution of trans-anethole, the major constituent of EOCz (85.7%), in the wound healing activity of EOCz, the effect of the topical administration of trans-AT on wound tissue repair was also evaluated and compared to other groups. A macroscopic analysis of swelling and exudates was performed and scored as 0 (missing), 1 (light), 2 (moderate) and 3 (intense). The number of capillaries and leukocytes was counted in hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections of the injured tissue. For extracellular matrix remodelling analysis, fibroblasts and collagen fibres present in the photomicrography of the Masson's Trichrome (MT)-stained sections were counted. Each experimental group comprised six mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At day 3 post-wounding, it was observed that treatment with 20% EOCz greatly reduced the swelling and exudates with a similar magnitude to the dexamethasone treatment. The inflammatory cell infiltration and angiogenesis were not altered by either the EOCz- or trans-AT treatments. In contrast, an acceleration of the wound closure was observed, with an enhanced number of fibroblasts and collagen fibres in both the 20% EOCz- and trans-AT-treated mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that EOCz exerts significant wound healing activity, demonstrating its relevant therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Av. Paranjana 1700, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josenilda Malveira
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: José Henrique
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Leal-Cardoso
authors.forename: Lúcio Ricardo Leite
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Viviane Gomes
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Portella
authors.forename: Carolina Oliveira
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Cybelle Façanha Barreto Medeiros
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Linard
authors.forename: Karuza
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Maria Valdenir  Abreu de Paula
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Crystiane Calado
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Vânia Marilande
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cecatto
authors.forename: Andrelina Noronha
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Coelho-de-Souza
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D029802:Croton; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C006578:anethole