Abietic acid, a naturally occurring fir resin compound, that exhibits anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, was formulated into biocompatible emulgels based on stable microemulsions with the addition of a carbamate-containing surfactant and Carbopol® 940 gel. Various microemulsion and emulgel formulations were tested for antioxidant and wound-healing properties. The chemiluminescence method has shown that all compositions containing abietic acid have a high antioxidant activity. Using Strat-M® skin-modelling membrane, it was found out that emulgels significantly prolong the release of abietic acid. On Wistar rats, it was shown that microemulsions and emulgels containing 0.5% wt. of abietic acid promote the rapid healing of an incised wound and twofold tissue reinforcement compared to the untreated group, as documented by tensiometric wound suture-rupture assay. The high healing-efficiency is associated with a combination of antibacterial activity of the formulation components and the anti-inflammatory action of abietic acid.
Keywords: abietic acid; antioxidant activity; drug delivery systems; emulgel; gelating polymer; microemulsion; surfactant; wound healing.