Topical application of Pinus seed oil enhances third-degree burn wound healing in rats.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries cause significant global morbidity and mortality, necessitating novel, effective treatments that minimize complications and accelerate healing. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of topical 5% seed oils from Pinus gerardiana and Pinus koraiensis, formulated in carboxymethyl cellulose gel, for third-degree burn wound repair in a rat model.

METHODS: Pine seed oils were extracted via cold pressing and their chemical profiles characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats with experimentally induced deep burn wounds were randomized into five groups: control (no treatment), base gel, 1% silver sulfadiazine ointment, 5% P. gerardiana seed oil gel, and 5% P. koraiensis seed oil gel. Macroscopic wound progression was evaluated on days 14 and 21 post-burn. Wound closure percentages, histopathological parameters (re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, granulation tissue, fibroblast maturation), and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA] and reactive oxygen species [ROS]) were quantified.

RESULTS: GC-MS profiling identified predominant fatty acids including linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acid in both pine oils. Treatment with 5% P. gerardiana and P. koraiensis significantly enhanced wound closure, re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, granulation tissue formation, and fibroblast maturation by day 21 relative to control and base gel groups (p < 0.05). Both oils also significantly reduced MDA levels, indicating decreased lipid peroxidation, outperforming silver sulfadiazine in some parameters.

CONCLUSION: Topical application of Pinus gerardiana and Pinus koraiensis seed oils accelerates burn wound healing potentially via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. These findings suggest promising adjuvant therapies for burn management deserving further molecular and clinical exploration.