Karo Traditional Oil, a traditional herbal medicine from Indonesia promote wound healing acceleration by suppressing tumor necrosis factor-α and stimulating interleukin 10 production

Abstract

Introduction: Wound healing acceleration is often found on open wounds smeared with Karo Traditional Oil, but its mechanism of action is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the mechanism of action of active compounds in Karo Traditional Oil in the inflammation phase of the wound healing process. Methods: A randomized post-test-only control group design study was conducted on 54 male Wistar rats. The negative control was treated with NaCl moist gauze. The positive control was treated with Karo Traditional Oil's carrier oil gauze, the treatment group was treated with Karo Traditional Oil gauze and observed on the first, third, and seventh day. Results: There was a significant increase in inflammatory cells on 1st-day post-treatment in the treatment group compared to the negative and positive control groups (p= 0.001). There was a significant decrease in Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) cytokines level on the first day (p= 0.002) and day-7 (p= 0.007). There was a significant decrease in Interleukin (IL)-10 cytokine level on the first day (p= 0.012), then a significant increase on the seventh day (p= 0.002). Conclusion: Active compounds in Karo Traditional Oil acts as a potent inflammation regulator in the wound healing process by suppressing the pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines.