Calendula officinalis extract enhances wound healing by promoting fibroblast activity and reducing inflammation in mice

Introduction Despite evidence supporting the therapeutic potential of Calendula officinalis, well-designed and controlled studies are still needed to confirm its beneficial effects on various health conditions, including skin care. This study therefore evaluates the effectiveness of topically administered 5% aqueous Calendula officinalis extract on healing full-thickness skin wounds in male BALB/c mice.Methods Seventy-two mice were divided into three groups: CAL (treated with calendula extract), PSS (treated with physiological saline), and NC (negative control/no treatment). Wound healing was assessed over 14 days using planimetric measurements, counting fibroblasts and macrophages, biochemical analyses of growth factors, inflammation markers, hydroxyproline levels, and genomic analyses.Results The data obtained show that the application of CAL extract significantly reduces wound areas by day 7 compared to the NC and PSS groups. CAL extract also leads to an increase in fibroblasts, fibroblast growth factor, and hydroxyproline levels, while it reduces macrophages and inflammatory biomarkers levels in the healing wound. Genomic analyses indicate that topical application of CAL extract significantly reduces the expression of inflammatory biomarkers, including matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9.Conclusions These findings show that 5% aqueous CAL extract enhances wound healing promising new insights for the effective topical treatment of skin wounds.