Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Brassica oleracea Accelerates Third-Degree Burn Healing in Rats

Abstract

Burns account for more than 265,000 deaths per year in the world, mainly associated with infections. Therefore, the shorter the healing time, the better the prognosis. Based on this, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of an ointment based on Brassica oleracea var. capitata extract in the third-degree healing process. Twenty-five male Wistar rats (335 ± 16 g, three months of life) were individualized in cages with food and water ad libitum. After anesthesia, two circular third-degree burn wounds (12 mm in diameter) were made on the animals, which were randomly separated into five treatments (n = 5/group), i.e., SAL: saline solution 0.9%; OV: ointment vehicle; SS: silver sulfadiazine 1%; PB1: 10% B. oleracea extract; and PB2: 20% B. oleracea extract. The animals were treated with the ointment daily for eight days. Every four days, the area and the wound contraction index were evaluated. Tissue samples were taken for histopathological analysis (cellularity, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix components) and analysis of oxidative/nitrosative status (antioxidant enzymes, lipid, and protein oxidation markers, as well as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)). The ointment based on B. oleracea var. capitata at 10 and 20% concentrations increased the number of cells, blood vessels, and fibrous components of the extracellular matrix and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, promoting a fast and efficient cutaneous repair in third-degree burn wounds.