Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical nanoemulsion (NE)-loaded cream and gel formulations of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn [SBT]) fruit oil for wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NE-loaded cream and gel formulations of H. rhamnoides L. (SBT) fruit oil (IPHRFH) were prepared and evaluated for their wound-healing activity on female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. They were further divided into groups (seven) and the wound-healing activity was determined by measuring the area of the wound on the wounding day and on the 0th, 4th, 8th, and 10th days. The acute dermal toxicity of the formulations was assessed by observing the erythema, edema, and body weight (BW) of the rats. RESULTS: The topical NE cream and gel formulations of H. rhamnoides L. (SBT) fruit oil showed significant wound-healing activity in female SD rats. The cream formulation of IPHRFH showed 78.96%, the gel showed 72.59% wound contraction on the 8th day, whereas the positive control soframycin (1% w/w framycetin) had 62.29% wound contraction on the 8th day. The formulations also showed a good acute dermal toxicity profile with no changes significantly affecting BW and dermal alterations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that topical NE-loaded cream and gel formulation of H. rhamnoides L. (SBT) fruit oil are safe and effective for wound healing. The formulations showed no signs of acute dermal toxicity in female SD rats.