Abstract:
Despite the existence of numerous products used for burns’ treatment, the use of traditional medicine remedies remains a common treatment option.
Our ethnopharmacological survey among 104 herbalists and traditional healers spread over 47 municipalities belonging to 19 provinces of the country, revealed the richness of Algerian traditional pharmacopoeia with burn treating products. A total of 74 natural products were identified.
Ranking these products by calculating their Relative Popularity Level (RPL) revealed that the fixed oil extracted from the fruits of mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus L.) is the most used natural product for burn treatment.
Furthermore, unlike the majority of Mediterranean pharmacopeia, this oil is the most used product of Pistacia lentiscus in Algeria, surpassing the use of leaves, resin and essential oils.
Our survey concerning the therapeutic uses of this oil revealed its use for 50 various therapeutic indications. Ranking these indications by calculating their Fidelity Level (FL) revealed that the treatment of skin and respiratory problems are the two major indications of Pistacia lentiscus fixed oil in Algeria.
The healing effect of this oil, used alone or mixed with beeswax (v/v) was evaluated for the treatment of experimental burns in rats. The healing process was evaluated by digital planimetry and histological examination of burned skin samples.
Mastic fixed oil used alone or in combination with beeswax, showed significantly better results (p˂0,05) than conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazine 1%. This healing effect resulted in an acceleration of wound contraction and a reduction of epithelialization time.
Histological observations corroborate with the clinical and planimetric findings.
No Synergistic or antagonistic effects were found between mastic oil and beeswax.
The in vitro investigation of the antibacterial effect of this oil on four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Escherichia coli ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa) showed no significant antibacterial effect. Hence the need to undertake further studies to identify the mechanisms responsible for the healing effect of this oil and the bioactive compounds behind it.
