Evaluation of the cutaneous wound healing potential of tamanu oil in wounds induced in rats.

AIMS: Tamanu is a plant oil derived from the fruit and seeds of the Calophyllum inophyllum tree. Although scientific data on tamanu oil are limited, it is recommended worldwide for the treatment of abrasions, burns, diabetic wounds and scars. This study aimed to compare the wound healing efficacy of the topical use of tamanu oil with a reference drug in rats. METHODS: Uniform wounds were induced on the dorsum of 21 rats, randomly divided into three groups. The control group received normal saline; the tamanu group received tamanu oil; and the centella group was treated with Centella asiatica. Wound healing was clinically evaluated using wound healing scoring and wound contraction. A biopsy was taken from the wound sites of each rat on days 7, 14 and 21 for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Wound contraction was significantly lower in the tamanu group compared with the other groups. On day 7, the intensity of macrophage infiltration and mature granulation tissues were significantly higher in the centella and tamanu groups than in the control group. Fibrosis and collagen density were higher in the tamanu group than the other groups on day 7. CONCLUSION: In wound healing in rats, tamanu oil accelerated the formation of macrophage-granulation tissues-fibrosis and resulted in less wound contraction.

An Integrated Computational and Experimental Approach to Formulate Tamanu Oil Bigels as Anti-Scarring Agent.

Tamanu oil has traditionally been used to treat various skin problems. The oil has wound-healing and skin-regenerating capabilities and encourages the growth of new skin cells, all of which are helpful for fading scars and hyperpigmentation, as well as promoting an all-around glow. The strong nutty odor and high viscosity are the major disadvantages associated with its application. The aim of this study was to create bigels using tamanu oil for its anti-scarring properties and predict the possible mechanism of action through the help of molecular docking studies. In silico studies were performed to analyze the binding affinity of the protein with the drug, and the anti-scarring activity was established using a full-thickness excision wound model. In silico studies revealed that the components inophyllum C, 4-norlanosta-17(20),24-diene-11,16-diol-21-oic acid, 3-oxo-16,21-lactone, calanolide A, and calophyllolide had docking scores of -11.3 kcal/mol, -11.1 kcal/mol, -9.8 kcal/mol, and -8.6 kcal/mol, respectively, with the cytokine TGF-ß1 receptor. Bigels were prepared with tamanu oil ranging from 5 to 20% along with micronized xanthan gum and evaluated for their pH, viscosity, and spreadability. An acute dermal irritation study in rabbits showed no irritation, erythema, eschar, or edema. In vivo excisional wound-healing studies performed on Wistar rats and subsequent histopathological studies showed that bigels had better healing properties when compared to the commercial formulation (MurivennaTM oil). This study substantiates the wound-healing and scar reduction potential of tamanu oil bigels.

The Bioactivity and Physicochemical Properties of Emulsions Based on Tamanu, Moringa, and Inca Inchi Oils.

With increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics, novel strategies for protection against microbial infections are crucial. Emulsions enhance the solubility of natural antibacterial oils and their uptake, making them promising drug delivery systems. However, it is important to find the right emulsifier to ensure that the oil has the right dispersion and does not adversely affect its antibacterial properties. Hence, this study investigated emulsions created from three vegetable oils: moringa oil from Moringa oleifera seeds, inca inchi oil from Plukenetia volubilis seeds, and tamanu oil from the Calophyllum inophyllum fruit. Emulsions were formed using two natural emulsifiers, lecithin and casein, at concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% (w/w). The study assessed the oil and emulsions' characteristics, including the zeta potential, creaming index, and particle size distribution. The antimicrobial properties of these oils and the most stable emulsions were examined. Gas chromatography was used to analyze the oil compositions. The potential antimicrobial properties of emulsions formulated with natural oils was proved. Particularly noteworthy were emulsions containing a 2.5% inca inchi or tamanu oil, stabilized with casein. The particle size ranged between 100 nm and 900 nm with the average size 300 nm. These emulsions also showed antibacterial activity against selected strains, and the strongest effect was observed for the system with inca inchi oil, which reduced S. epidermidis bacterial activity by more than 60%. Therefore, it can be expected that the completed research will allow the development of antibacterial systems based on inca inchi or tamanu oils for use in the food industry.

Improving the Antioxidant Properties of Calophyllum inophyllum Seed Oil from French Polynesia: Development and Biological Applications of Resinous Ethanol-Soluble Extracts.

Tamanu oil from Calophyllum inophyllum L. has long been used in traditional medicine. Ethanol extraction was found the best strategy for recovering bioactive compounds from the resin part of Tamanu oil, yielding two neutral and acidic resins fractions with high phenolics, flavonoids and pyranocoumarins concentrations. A further cascade of LPLC/HPLC separations of neutral and acidic resin fractions allowed identifying fifteen metabolites, and among them, calanolide D and 12-oxocalanolide A (both in neutral fraction) were first identified from a natural source. All these extracts, subfractions and isolated metabolites demonstrated increased free radical scavenging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimycobacterial activity compared to Tamanu oil and its de-resinated lipid phase. Overall, these results could promote resinous ethanol-soluble Tamanu oil extracts as a useful multifaceted and renewable medicinal resource.

Calophyllum inophyllum in vaginitis treatment: Stimulated by electroporation with an in vitro approach.

BACKGROUND: Vaginitis is one of the most common problems in clinical medicine and is cited most often during visits to obstetricians and gynecologists. Most of the inflammation cases are caused by candidiasis trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis. Therefore, treatment of vaginal infections must use antibiotic or antifungal drugs, which often provide quick relief to the patient. The real cause of the problem - disrupting the ecosystem of the vagina - remains unchanged. Thus, new therapeutic compounds are being explored. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a natural substance: tamanu oil, an extract from the plant Calophyllum inophyllum, applied to the human fibroblast cell line (normal human dermal fibroblasts - NHDFs) and to the isolated human fibroblasts from the vagina (human vaginal fibroblasts - HVFs) in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the viability of cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after incubation only with tamanu oil and with electroporation (EP). We also examined the immunocytochemical reaction of collagen type III and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) under established conditions. RESULTS: Tamanu oil increased the proliferation of cells and the amount of collagen III. It has been shown that the C. inophyllum extract stimulates the proliferation of commercial fibroblasts. For direct application in patients, one should use C. inophyllum extract in the range of 1:10-1:100 (saline dilution). CONCLUSIONS: The use of this extract (at concentrations indicated by the studies presented here) stimulates the healing processes (increased expression of collagen type III), and has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic qualities.