Topical application of Cinnamon verum essential oil accelerates infected wound healing process by increasing tissue antioxidant capacity and keratin biosynthesis

Cinnamon essential oil is known to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which may accelerate, wound healing. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an ointment prepared from Cinnamon verum essential oil (C verum) in infected wound model. An experimentally excisional infected wound model was induced in mice. Circular excisional wound model of 5mm surface area was surgically created and inoculated with 10(7) CFU of each of two bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The animals were divided into three groups and topically treated with soft yellow paraffin (control) and ointments containing 2% and 4% C verum. The mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal keratin, fibroblasts, fibrocytes, immune cells, and vascular distribution as well as epithelialization ratio were investigated in order to evaluate the effects of C verum on wound healing. Tissue total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels (MDA) were also evaluated. Topical administration of C verum remarkably shortened the inflammatory phase, increased fibroblast distribution, collagen deposition, and accelerated the cellular proliferation, reepithelialization and keratin synthesis. The mRNA levels of IGF-1, FGF-2 and VEGF were remarkably higher in C verum-treated groups (especially 2%) in comparison control group. Topical administration of C verum increased antioxidant power and reduced MDA content in comparison to control animals. C verum accelerates wound healing by upregulating the IGF-1, FGF-2, and VEGF expression and increasing cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, and reepithelialization ratio.