Pink lotus essential oil: in vitro activities, preparation of hydrogel, and its promotion wound healing in vivo

The study aimed to evaluate the in vitro activities of pink lotus essential oil (PLEO) and develop a PLEO-loaded hydrogel formulation to promote wound healing. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cell proliferation and migration-promoting activities of PLEO were determined. PLEO was microencapsulated by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and incorporated into a hydrogel matrix. The in vivo wound healing efficacy and underlying mechanisms of the hydrogel were examined in a mouse model. PLEO inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, suppressed LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory factors, while promoting proliferation and migration of HUVECs and HSFs cells. The prepared hydrogels loading PLEO microcapsules showed a good physicochemical properties,andmarkedly accelerated wound healing in mice and upregulated the expression of type Icollagen, α-SMA and VEGF, PI3K, p-Akt, and p-eNOS inwound tissues.The hydrogels containing PLEO microcapsules accelerates wound healing through activation of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway.