Evaluation of the wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities and phytochemical analysis of Myrtus communis L.

This study evaluates wound healing activities of n-hexane and acetone extracts, as well as the essential oils obtained from the berries and leaves of Myrtus communis L., (Myrtaceae), using excision and incision wound models. Ulcerations of the skin tissues, re-epithelization, fibroblast proliferation, mono/polymorphonuclear cells, vascularization and collagen increase were qualitatively evaluated by the histopathological analysis. An acute anti-inflammatory activity method based on the inhibition of the increase in vascular permeability was used to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts and essential oils. Oils' yields and chemical profiles were also determined. Volatile oil, obtained from M. communis berries, provided a contraction rate of 60.08% in the circular excision wound model and a tensile strength ratio of 39.1% in the linear incision wound model. The n-hexane extract of M. communis berries was found to possess significant activity in the circular excision wound model with a ratio of 49.2%. However, it did not provide a significant increase in wound tensile strength. Berries' essential oils provided significant inhibition (28.5%). Particularly the essential oil of M. communis berries and its extracts can be used wound healing and anti-inflammatory purposes.