Therapeutic Potential of Moringa oleifera-Based Cream on Burn Wound Healing: Inflammation Suppression and TGF-β1 Modulation in Mice

Abstract

Burns are tissue injuries that trigger complex inflammatory responses and require proper treatment to prevent further complications. Moringa oleifera L., or known as kelor, is a herbal plant containing bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, and tannins that have the potential as wound healing agents through anti-inflammatory mechanisms and stimulation of tissue regeneration. This study aims to evaluate the potential of M. oleifera leaf extract cream in reducing inflammation and increasing the expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in mice (Mus musculus) with a second-degree burn model. The method used includes administering Moringa oleifera cream (MOC) with concentrations of 1.25%, 2.5%, and 5% on thermally induced burns. Evaluation of wound healing was carried out through histopathological observation with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining to determine the inflammation score, as well as immunohistochemistry (IHC) to measure TGF-β1 expression. The results showed that MOC was able to significantly reduced inflammation scores, and increased TGF-β1 expression compared to the negative control group. Cream with a concentration of 5% gave the most optimal effect in reducing inflammatory cell infiltration and increasing TGF-β1 expression. Thus, it can be concluded that M. oleifera leaf extract cream has the potential as a topical therapeutic agent for healing second-degree burns. A concentration of 5% is the most effective dose in accelerating the healing process through the mechanism of reducing inflammation and increasing TGF-β1 expression.