Effect of Topical Treatment of Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oil on Wound Healing in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

A common complication of diabetes is impaired wound healing. Systemic Rosmarinus officinalis oil improves healing in diabetics, which is dose dependent and may have side effects. There is very less information regarding topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil on wound healing. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by using streptozotocin. The control group comprised age-matched animals not submitted to streptozotocin injection. Diabetic state was confirmed by glycosuria and hyperglycemia. Under tribromoethanol anaesthesia, four skin wounds (4mm diameter) were performed on shaved dorsal area (2 each side of median line). Topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil was applied daily only on both wounds on right side of median line. Animals were sacrificed on day 3 and 7 after surgery and tissue samples were prepared and observed under light microscopy. Histological, histometric and stereological methods were used for analysis. Topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil accelerated wound closure in diabetic and non-diabetic rats and the results were found to be more active than antibiotic treated controls. Topical Rosmarinus officinalis oil could be helpful in diabetics in order to improve the wound healing process avoiding possible adverse effects from systemic medication. All the values were statistically significant.