Wound Healing, Anti-analgesic, and Antioxidant Activity of Nigella sativa Linn., Essential Based Topical Formulations in Rat Model Experimental Skin Defects

In this study, total antioxidant and radical scavenging capacity wound healing and anti-analgesic effects of creams prepared from Nigella sativa EOs, hydrosol, and seed oil were determined in the experimental rat model. For this purpose, the volatile components of N. sativa EOs and hydrosol were characterized using GC-FID and GC-MS and the total antioxidant capacity of creams was determined by CUPRAC and DPPH assays. The analgesic effect of the creams was determined by the formalin test, while the wound-healing effects of creams were evaluated in vivo by experimentally creating skin wounds in rats. The main components in the group of monoterpene hydrocarbons, accounting for 52.61% of the total composition of N. sativa EOs, were as follows: p-cymene (28.76%), alpha-thujene (12.88%), trans-verbenol (5.99%), beta-pinene (3.71%), alpha-pinene (3.69%), sabinene (1.7%), and limonene (1.69%). The group of oxygenated monoterpenes of N. sativa EOs was dominated by 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (35.7%), known as thymoquinone (TQ). On the other hand, the analyses of GC-FID and GC-MS revealed that N. sativa hydrosol contains five components. These ingredients were as follows: 1,8-cineole (0.4%), linalool (0.5%), trans-verbenol (2.83%), terpinen-4-ol (7.21%), and TQ (89.05%). Research findings revealed the strong antioxidant effect and radical scavenging ability of the prepared creams. It was found that the cream, especially enriched with N. sativa hydrosol, had a better antioxidant effect and wound healing potential.