Wound healing is a fundamental response to tissue injury and a number of natural products has been found to accelerate the healing process. Herein, we report the preparation of a series of different polarity (organic and aqueous) extracts of the marine isopod Ceratothoa oestroides and the in vivo evaluation of their wound healing activity after topical administration of ointments incorporating the various extracts on wounds inflicted on SKH-hr1 hairless mice. The most active extract was fractionated for enrichment in the bioactive constituents and the fractions were further evaluated for their wound healing activity, while their chemical profiles were analyzed. Wound healing was evaluated by clinical assessment, photo-documentation, histopathological analysis and measurement of biophysical skin parameters, such as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, elasticity, and skin thickness. The highest levels of activity were exerted by treatment of the wounds with a fraction rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as well as myristic and palmitoleic acids. Topical application of the bioactive fraction on the wounds of mice resulted in complete wound closure with a skin of almost normal architecture without any inflammatory elements.
Keywords: Ceratothoa oestroides; SKH-hr1 hairless mice; eicosapentaenoic acid; marine isopod; wound healing.