Effects of Pistacia atlantica (subsp. Mutica) oil extracts on antioxidant activities during experimentally induced cutaneous wound healing in rats

The fruits of Pistacia atlantica (subsp. mutica) have been used traditionally for the treatment of peptic ulcer, as a mouth freshener and have recently been introduced as a source of antioxidant vegetable oils. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of the gel forms, from P. atlantica (subsp. mutica) oil extraction on enzymatic antioxidants in experimental wound created in rat. A square-shaped skin defect (2×2 cm) was created aseptically by surgical excision at the first thoracic vertebrae. Then animals were randomly allocated in four groups (I, untreated controls; II, topically treated base gel; III, topically treated 5% gel; IV, topically treated 10% gel). Blood sampling was accomplished at 3, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-injury. Samples were collected for measuring antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity in red cells) and lipid peroxidation (plasma malondialdehyde). The data analysis generally evidenced that the activities of the main antioxidant enzymes began to decrease significantly at 7 days after the wound was created in control and base gel groups. This remarkable decline became more evident in the period between 10 to 21 days post injury but increased progressively in P. atlantica (subsp. mutica) treatment groups, especially in gel 10% treatment group during wound healing. The results of this study suggest that excision of the wound leads to oxidative stress and topical administration of P. atlantica (subsp. mutica) gels causes remarkable changes in antioxidant parameter during wound closure (especially gel 10%) via pro-oxidative, and antioxidant activity can improve oxidative stress.