Mast cell concentration and skin wound contraction in rats treated with Ximenia americana L

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate wound contraction and the concentration of mast cells in skin wounds treated with wild plum (Ximenia americana) essential oil-based ointment in rats. Methods: Sixty rats were submitted to two cutaneous wounds in the thoracic region, on the right and left antimeres. Thereon, they were divided into three groups: GX (wounds treated once a day with hydro alcoholic branch extract of Ximenia amerIcana), GP (wounds that received vehicle), and GC (wounds without product ap-plication). Wounds were measured immediately after the injury as well as 4, 7, 14 and 21 days post-topical application of the extract. At these days, five rats from each group were euthanatized. Thereafter, samples were fixed in 10% formalde-hyde and processed for paraffin embedding. Sections were stained with H.E, Masson’s Trichrome and toluidine blue for morphological, morphometrical and histopathological analysis, under light microscopy. The degree of epithelial con-traction was measured and mast cell concentrations were also evaluated with an image analyzer (Image Pro-plus®software). Results: The extract treated group showed lower mast cell concentrations in the 4th day of lesion, as compared to GP (GX GP = GC; p<0.05). Conclusion: Ointment containing 10% X. americana induces a decrease in mast cell concen-tration, at the beginning of the healing process, and promotes early skin wound contraction in rats.