Design and Optimization of a Natural Medicine from Copaifera reticulata Ducke for Skin Wound Care

Polymers (Basel). 2022 Oct 23;14(21):4483. doi: 10.3390/polym14214483.

Abstract

In this study, we developed a bioadhesive emulsion-filled gel containing a high amount of Copaifera reticulata Ducke oil-resin as a veterinary or human clinical proposal. The phytotherapeutic system had easy preparation, low cost, satisfactory healing ability, and fly repellency, making it a cost-effective clinical strategy for wound care and myiasis prevention. Mechanical, rheological, morphological, and physical stability assessments were performed. The results highlight the crosslinked nature of the gelling agent, with three-dimensional channel networks stabilizing the Copaifera reticulata Ducke oil-resin (CrD-Ore). The emulgel presented antimicrobial activity, satisfactory adhesion, hardness, cohesiveness, and viscosity profiles, ensuring the easy spreading of the formulation. Considering dermatological application, the oscillatory responses showed a viscoelastic performance that ensures emulgel retention at the action site, reducing the dosage frequencies. In Vivo evaluations were performed using a case report to treat ulcerative skin wounds aggravated by myiasis in calves and heifers, which demonstrated healing, anti-inflammatory, and repellent performance for the emulsion-filled gel. The emulgel preparation, which is low in cost, shows promise as a drug for wound therapy.

Keywords: copaiba oil-resin; emulgel; emulsion-filled gel; phytotherapeutic; wound.

Grants and funding

This study was sponsored by the National Ministry of Health (Secretariat of Science, Technology and Strategic Inputs—SCTIE, Department of Science and Technology—DECIT), Brazilian funding agencies, such as Araucária Foundation/PR and CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), through contracts no. 405967/2018-7 and 307695/2020-4, under CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) process no. 88887.286821/2018-00 and FINEP (Financier of Studies and Projects).