Preliminary results: essential oils from Hypericum spp. growing wild in Greece and their wound healing effects

Hypericum has been used as wound healing agent since classical Antiquity. The most common preparation for the treatment of wounds and skin inflammations is the infused oil obtained from the aerial parts, containing napthodianthrones, phloroglucinols and essential oil (EO); however, there is much controversy in the scientific community regarding the composition and stability of this formulation [1]. Extensive literature survey shows, that Hypericum EO not yet been evaluated regarding the wound healing efficacy, although many studies report antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiangiogenic, gastroprotective activities [2].

In the present study, Hypericum spp. growing wild in Greece (H. perforatum-HP, H. empetrifolium-HE, H. amblycalyx, H. jovis, H. triquetrifolium-HT) were subjected in hydro-distillation to obtain their EOs. GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of 137 individual compounds representing 87.8-96.8% of the total EOs. Hypericum L. is generally classified as EO-poor genus; only three taxa (HP, HE, HT) yielded enough EO for in vivo tests, which were conducted in hairless SKH mice. Measurements such as transepidermal water loss, hydration, redness, thickness and elasticity were performed. Statistical analysis interestingly showed some significant wound healing properties (p<0.05) of HT and HE in low concentration (0.05%). This is an ongoing project and the results will be further evaluated by photodocumentation and histopathological examination.

• References

• 1 Jarić S, Kostić O, Mataruga Z, Pavlović D, Pavlović M, Pavlović P. Traditional wound-healing plants used in the Balkan region. J Ethnopharmacol 2018; 211: 311-328
• 2 Guedes A, Franklin M, Fernandes-ferreira M. Hypericum sp.: essential oil composition and biological activities. Phytochem Rev 2012; 11: 127-152