Essential oil of Croton zehntneri on tissue repair in mice

Croton zehntneri Pax at Hoffm is a plant found in the Northeast of Brazil, mainly in the state of Ceara, popularly known as canela-de-cunha, where it is used as a sweetener for food and drinks, and its leaves are used in the form of teas and infusions to relieve gastrointestinal disorders (Craveiro et al., 1977; Craveiro et al., 1978). According to local reports, they are also used as a poultice to heal certain types of skin lesions. Oliveira et al. (2001) investigated the effect of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (OECz) in experimental pain models, demonstrating antinociceptive activity, indicating actions at central sites, and also suggesting anti-inflammatory activity (OLIVEIRA et al., 2001). These results may indicate a healing effect of OECz on skin wounds, since the inflammatory response is a prerequisite for the tissue repair process (Porto et al., 2007). This work was carried out in the Experimental Physiology laboratory at the State University of Ceara.