Improvement of wound tissue repair by chitosan films containing (-)-borneol, a bicyclic monoterpene alcohol, in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the wound‐healing activity of (–)‐borneol (BOR) incorporated in chitosan film on healing protocol in rodents. To assess the BOR wound‐healing potential, male Wistar rats were subjected to a full‐thickness excisional wound. The animals were divided into three groups: dressed with chitosan‐based film (QUIN); dressed with chitosan‐based film containing 0·5% BOR (QUIBO05); or dressed with chitosan‐based film containing 1% BOR (QUIBO1). Dressing the wound areas and histological analysis were performed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was assessed on the third and seventh days after surgical procedures. Wounds dressed with chitosan‐based film containing BOR reduced significantly the MPO activity (P < 0·001), showed significantly larger wound retraction rates (7 days, P < 0·05), improved the granulation reaction, and also provided better collagenisation density and arrangement during wound healing. It is suggested that BOR modulates the wound‐healing process and is a promising compound to be used in wound care. This product may be quite useful in improving wound healing and could be a new biotechnological product with healing properties and clinical application. Further ongoing studies will enable us to understand the precise mechanisms whereby BOR improves the wound‐healing process.