Evaluation of the Healing Potential of Myracrodruon urundeuva in Wounds Induced in Male Rats

AbstractMyracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Anacardiaceae, is popularly known as “aroeira-do-sertão”. It is a common species in the state of Ceará and widely used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, astringent, anti-allergic, and antidiarrheal activities and also in the treatment of skin wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing effect of the cream prepared with the decoction from the stem bark of a 7-year-old cultivated M. urundeuva in rats submitted to excisional wounds. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sham group, which did not received a treatment; 10% “aroeira” cream group, which received application of the plant cream; and control group, which received application of the base cream. The animals had their skin fragments (8 mm in diameter) removed, and each group was observed at 2, 7, and 12 days after surgery. The macroscopic analysis was performed with a digital paquimeter. The fragments of newly formed tissue were removed from the skin for slides processing and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and picrosirius red staining techniques, in order to verify the effect of the 10% “aroeira” cream in different stages of the healing process. Macroscopic analyses demonstrated a decrease in the area of the 10% “aroeira” cream treated wounds, compared with controls. In addition, the histological study evidenced an improvement in the inflammatory aspects (infiltrate, edema, hemorrhage), in this treated group, as well as the presence of a new epithelium and a greater intensity in collagen deposition. Thus, a favorable effect was observed regarding the use of 10% “aroeira” cream in the cicatricial process of cutaneous wounds in rats, modulating the inflammatory response of healing and accelerating tissue repair of experimental excisional skin wounds.