Histopathological evaluation of the effect of Mentha piperita essential oil on cutaneous wound healing in rats infected with C. albicans

Wound infections caused by Candida albicans has grown substantially in recent years. Expensive medications, side effects, and particularly, the development of drug resistance, led to the use of biological materials may be considered as an alternative solution. Studies show that Mentha piperita essential oil contains flavonoids and menthol and hence it has antibacterial properties. We used 100 male Wistar rats (weight 195-205 g). One square surgical wound with dimensions of 1.5×1.5 cm were performed on the back of each animal and immediately became infected whit 0.1 ml of 1.5×107 CFU Candida albicans suspension. Then the rats were divided into 4 groups (control, placebo, treatments 1.5% and 3%) each with 25 rats and randomly distributed into 5 subgroups each whit 5 rats (sample groups on different days). Wound healing activity was performed by histological studies and yeast counts at the end of 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 20th days after surgery. According to the pathological findings, Mentha piperita essential oil topically, significantly reduces inflammation and migration of leukocytes, and also significantly increase in vascular regeneration, epithelialization and migration of fibroblasts, compared control group. Mentha piperita essential oil, especially in higher doses (3%), increased pathological factors affecting wound healing in rats was infected with Candida albicans.