ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

The Fatty Acid Composition of Vegetable Oils and Their

Potential Use in Wound Care
Anselmo Queiroz Alves, MD; Valdemiro Amaro da Silva, Jr, PhD; Alexandre José Silva Góes, PhD; Mariza Severina Silva,
Gibson Gomes de Oliveira, PhD; Isla Vanessa Gomes Alves Bastos, PhD;
Antonio Gomes de Castro Neto, PhD; and Antonio José Alves, PhD

ABSTRACT or diseases. These wounds are debilitating in their persistence and

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the similarities among fatty acid can lead to functional disability and dependence. Patients with
compositions of vegetable oils sold in the Brazilian market and those chronic wounds may have mild, moderate, or severe depression.1
present in a reference health product used to treat wounds. Considering this information and the economic and social costs
METHODS: The relative amounts of fatty acids in 21 types of vegetable for treatment, chronic wounds represent a serious health problem.
oils, purchased in the Brazilian market, were assessed using gas Pressure injuries (PIs) are one such chronic wound and can af-
chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection. fect all layers of the body, from the outermost layers of skin to the
MAIN RESULTS: The studied oils had similar fatty acid compositions muscles, cartilage, and bone. In Brazil, it is estimated that PIs, on
to the reference product (caprylic acid, 18.8%; capric acid, 17.4%; average, occur in 36.56% of patients in ICUs, in 42.60% of internal
oleic acid, 27.5%; and linoleic acid, 28.1%). The presence of caprylic medicine patients, and in 39.05% of surgical patients. Pressure in-
acid (10.45% ± 0.07%), capric acid (5.8% ± 0.75%), lauric acid juries have significant economic impact, because it affects millions
(45.63% ± 0.93%), and myristic acid (16.33% ± 2.23%) were of patients, which makes this condition a major public health
detected in all the vegetable oils tested. Oleic acid (52.94% ± problem to be studied.2 Despite this, there are still no real cost
12.54%) was present in andiroba, avocado, canola, copaiba, olive, data regarding treatment of this condition in Brazil.
palm, pequi, and pracaxi oils and featured prominently in olive oil There are more than 2,000 products on market to treat wounds,
(75.8%). Linoleic acid (57.09% ± 8.47%) was present in corn, which makes choosing suitable products difficult.3 Current thera-
cottonseed, grapeseed, passion fruit, and sunflower oils and in mixed peutic agents can present problems concerning adherence to
oils (olive with soybean and sunflower with corn and canola). treatment, mainly because of adverse effects. Medicinal plants
CONCLUSIONS: Most of the vegetable oils tested are products of have been used to treat illness since ancient times, and some
plants from tropical climates, where they are abundant and easy to are well known for their abilities to promote wound healing and
cultivate. It is possible that a balanced composition of fatty acids prevent infection without serious adverse effects. Therefore, herbal
obtained from natural sources could be an effective alternative therapy may be an attractive alternative strategy for treatment
treatment for wounds. of wounds.
KEYWORDS: Brazilian plants, caprylic acid, capric acid, Dersani, In Brazil, pharmaceutical products based on essential fatty acids
fatty acids, lauric acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, tropical climate, (EFAs), derived from vegetable oils, are widely available. These
vegetable oils, wound healing pharmaceutical products may contain one or more EFAs (linoleic
ADV SKIN WOUND CARE 2019;32:1–8.
and α-linoleic acids), as well as one or more vegetable oils, such as
sunflower, calendula, or olive oil. Other vegetable fats rich in EFAs
such as shea butter, for example, have demonstrated the ability to
close and heal wounds.4
Fatty acids are very important to the formation and mainte-
INTRODUCTION nance of cell membranes within the stratum corneum, the layer
Chronic wounds are characterized by a deviation in the normal of the skin that provides a barrier to the environment and regu-
healing process and typically are associated with systemic impairment lates permeability.4,5 Fatty acids also have lubricant, emollient,
Anselmo Queiroz Alves, MD, is a Specialist, Maxiclínica Médica Ltda, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Valdemiro Amaro da Silva, Jr, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine at the
Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. At the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, Alexandre José da Silva Góes, PhD, is
Associate Professor, Department of Antibiotics; and Mariza Severina Silva is a Master of Sciences student, Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Gibson Gomes de Oliveira, PhD, is a
postdoctoral student, Research Center on Natural and Synthetic Products, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. At the
UFPE, Isla Vanessa Gomes Alves Bastos, PhD, is a postdoctoral student, Department of Antibiotics; Antonio Gomes de Castro Neto, PhD, is Substitute Professor, Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology; and Antonio José Alves, PhD, is Titular Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Acknowledgments: The authors thank the Maxiclínica Médica Ltda and CEAN/
CETENE for their contributions to research development. The authors have disclosed no financial relationships related to this article. Submitted July 26, 2018; accepted in revised form
September 13, 2018; published online ahead of print May 2, 2018.

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 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to restore the natu-
ral oils of the skin and protect it from environmental damage.6
Pharmaceutical products made with EFAs from vegetable oils,
marketed in Brazil, sometimes contain other components such
as vitamin E (tocopherol), which has antioxidant activity; vita-
min A (retinoic acid), which can promote healing and epitheliali-
zation;7 lanoline and soy lecithin, which promote hydration and
aid cicatricial processes of the skin;8,9 and medium-chain triglycer-
ides (MCTs) such as capric and caprylic acids.
The MCTs are a class of lipids in which three saturated fatty acids
are bound to a glycerol backbone. What distinguishes MCTs from
other triglycerides is that each fatty acid molecule has between 6
and 12 carbons on its chain. These MCTs can treat PIs, help form
a protective barrier on the skin, and prevent maceration. Besides
being important in inflammatory process, MCTs promote the re-
generation of cells and tissues, which improves immune response
and wound healing via angiogenesis and epithelization.9,10
In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward the use
of natural raw materials in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. This
has caused great interest in oils extracted from native plants of
the Amazon forest, promoting a rapid and significant expansion
of the national and international markets for these oils. This study
aimed to evaluate the fatty acid composition of 21 vegetable oils
marketed in Brazil and compare their composition with a com-
mercial lotion used for wound healing to examine potential natu-
ral alternatives for wound treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Researchers analyzed a total of 21 commercial vegetable oils pur-
chased in a Brazilian market as follows: andiroba (Carapa guianensis
Aubl.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), babassu (Attalea speciosa
Mart. ex Spreng.), canola (Brassica napus L.), castor (Ricinus communis
L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.),
Figure.
CHROMATOGRAM OF THE FATTY ACIDS IN THE REFERENCE PRODUCT
ADVANCES IN SKIN & WOUND CARE • VOL. 32 NO. 8
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
corn (Zea mays L.), cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.), grapeseed
(Vitis vinifera L.), licuri or ouricuri (Syagrus coronata [Martius] Beccari),
linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), olive (Olea europaea L.), palm (Elaeis
guineensis Jacq.), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.), pequi (Caryocar
brasiliense Cambess.), pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba [Willd] Kuntze),
soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.),
and two mixed oils (soybean oil mixed with olive oil, and sunflower
oil mixed with corn and canola oil). Dersani Original (Saniplan, Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil) is a commercial lotion that was used as a
reference product.
Basic transesterification was performed by reacting samples of
10 mg of each vegetable oil with 2.5 mL of 1.0 mol/L CH3ONa.
Samples were placed in a water bath for 30 minutes at 70° C,
and then allowed to stand for approximately 3 hours. Next, a hex-
ane solution (1.0 mL) in water (1.5 mL) was added to the samples.
After this, all samples were vortexed for 1 minute; then, the apolar
phase (hexane) was withdrawn with the aid of an automatic pi-
pette, and the polar phase was placed in a new hermetically sealed
tube. This extraction process was performed in triplicate.
After this step, 1.0 mL of each sample was placed in vials and
taken for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ion-
ization detector analysis. Samples were injected twice. The gas
chromatograph-mass spectrometer was a Shimadzu Model
QP-2010; parameters included the following: column: ZB-WAX
(30 m  0.25 mm  0.25 mm), split: 1:30, injection temperature:
240° C, column flow: 1.40 mL/min-1, carrier gas: helium. The oven
temperature program was 50° C for 3 minutes and then 200° C for
8 minutes at a rate of 12° C/min-1 and then 240° C for 10 minutes
at a rate of 5° C/min-1 with a total running time of 41.5 minutes.
The solvent cut time was 3 minutes, the ion source temperature
was 250° C, the ionization mode was electron ionization, and
voltage was set to 70 V, scanning 35 to 500 m/z. Quantifications
were expressed in mean percentage with SD.
2 WWW.WOUNDCAREJOURNAL.COM
 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

RESULTS

Caprilic acid Capric acid Lauric acid Miristic acid Palmitic acid Stearic acid Palmitoleic acid Oleic acid (ω-9) Ricinoleic acid Linoleic acid (ω-6) Linolenic acid (ω-3)
Twelve fatty acids were identified in the commercial lotion (refer-

4.53 ± 0.121
1.2 ± 0.1

5.3 ± 0.1
3.3 ± 0.6
0.1 ± 0.0

0.9 ± 0.0
0.3 ± 0.0

2.7 ± 0.0

2.3 ± 0.2
0.2 ± 0.0

0.2 ± 0.0
0.3 ± 0.0
1.86 ± 0.1

46.5 ± 1.8

0.79 ± 0.1
ence product). The Figure shows chromatograms of the identified

—
—

—
fatty acids, and Table 1 shows their retention times. The reference
product’s datasheet reports that the lotion’s composition includes
triglycerides of capric and caprylic acids, clarified sunflower oil, lec-
ithin, retinol palmitate, tocopherol acetate, and alpha-tocopherol,11

15.1 ± 0.22
but it does not provide quantities. The main fatty acids found in the

4.8 ± 0.0
5.9 ± 0.1

2.6 ± 0.1

6.4 ± 0.1
2.9 ± 1.0

4.2 ± 0.4

8.9 ± 1.3

15.7 ± 0.2
11.8 ± 0.1

57.6 ± 0.1
52.6 ± 0.5
68.1 ± 0.2

63.2 ± 0.0
10.7 ± 0.7

44.1 ± 0.3

40.0 ± 0.6
53.2 ± 0.5

28.1 ± 0.5
32.8 ± 2.1

14.1 ± 2.1

64.1 ± 7.2
reference product were capric acid (18.8% ± 0.8%), caprylic acid
(17.4% ± 0.4%), palmitic acid (3.8% ± 0.0%), stearic acid (2.7% ±
0.0%), oleic acid (27.5% ± 0.5%), and linolenic acid (28.1% ± 0.5%).
Table 2 lists the 11 most abundant fatty acids found in the

83.7 ± 0.3
analyzed oils. There are saturated fatty acids between C8:0 to

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—
C18:0; monounsaturated fatty acids C16:1, C18:1, and C18:1OH; and
polyunsaturated fatty acids C18:2 and C18:3. The most abundant
fatty acids found were caprylic acid (10.45% ± 0.07%), capric acid

5.6 ± 0.183
65.7 ± 0.317
(5.8% ± 0.75%), lauric acid (45.63% ± 0.93%), and myristic acid

6.5 ± 0.7

7.7 ± 6.1
42.7 ± 3.1
22.3 ± 0.1
17.3 ± 0.0
19.9 ± 0.1

25.0 ± 1.8

33.2 ± 0.4
34.3 ± 0.3

27.5 ± 0.5
57.0 ± 0.1
60.7 ± 0.1
15.7 ± 0.4

75.7 ± 0.1
42.9 ± 6.9
19.2 ± 0.0

58.1 ± 0.4
29.1 ± 0.0
26.2 ± 0.6
46.7 ± 5.8
(16.33% ± 2.23%). These fatty acids are all present in coconut
and licuri oils. The presence of caprylic acid in babassu oil was
not detected.
The omega 9 oleic acid (52.94% ± 12.54%) is more abundant in
7.6 ± 0.1

0.1 ± 0.0

0.1 ± 0.0
1.2 ± 0.1
0.04 ± 0.1

0.03 ± 0.0
0.23 ± 0.1
THE MOST ABUNDANT FATTY ACIDS FOUND IN ANALYZED OILS, %

andiroba (57%), avocado (51.7%), canola (65.9%), copaiba (42.7%),

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—

—
—

—
—
—

—
olive (75.8%), palm (42.9%), pequi (46.7%), and pracaxi (40.8%)
oils. The omega 6 linoleic acid (57.09% ± 8.47%) is present in corn,
2.4 ± 0.125

cottonseed, grape seed, copaiba, passion fruit, soybean, and sun-

3.3 ± 0.07
10.2 ± 0.1

4.6 ± 0.1

6.2 ± 1.4
0.9 ± 0.1

2.9 ± 0.4

4.8 ± 0.0

2.7 ± 0.0
2.5 ± 0.1

2.2 ± 0.0
2.3 ± 0.0

4.3 ± 0.0
5.4 ± 2.1
3.3 ± 0.0

3.6 ± 0.1
6.5 ± 0.0
4.2 ± 0.1
7.5 ± 0.3
3.8 ± 0.2

2.2 ± 0.1
flower oils. It is also present in mixed oils (soybean and olive oil,

—
48.5%; sunflower with corn and canola oil, 53.2%). The omega 3
linolenic acid (46.55%) is present in linseed oil.
1.8 ± 0.147
4.5 ± 0.03

23.7 ± 0.02

6.5 ± 1.1
7.2 ± 0.0

2.5 ± 0.0

5.5 ± 0.2

3.8 ± 0.0
8.6 ± 0.2

7.2 ± 0.4
8.5 ± 0.2

11.9 ± 0.3
24.3 ± 0.1
10.8 ± 0.1

12.9 ± 0.0

11.0 ± 0.1
39.6 ± 5.4
11.4 ± 0.0

12.2 ± 0.1

12.1 ± 0.3
9.78 ± 0.1
36.3 ± 4.2

DISCUSSION
Most Brazilian plants from the Amazon river basin and Cerrado
(Brazilian savanna) used in this study have medicinal properties,
0.5 ± 0.0
0.8 ± 0.0

1.6 ± 0.1
15.2 ± 0.2

0.54 ± 0.1

0.03 ± 0.0
18.9 ± 1.5

0.45 ± 0.1
14.9 ± 1.1

as demonstrated in biologic or ethnopharmacologic studies

—
—

—
—

—
—
—
—
—

discussed here.
45.0 ± 0.6

46.7 ± 1.5
0.49 ± 0.1

45.2 ± 3.4

0.5 ± 0.0

Table 1.
—
—

—
—

—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

RETENTION TIMES OF FATTY ACIDS FOUND

Behenic acid = 13.3 ± 0.3 and lignoceric acid = 5.9 ± 0.0.

IN THE REFERENCE PRODUCT

17.4 ± 0.4
5.1 ± 0.2

5.7 ± 0.3

6.6 ± 0.5

Fatty Acids Retention Time, min

—
—

—
—

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Caproic acid (C6) 5.860

Caprilic acid (C8) 8.625
Capric acid (C10) 10.951
10.4 ± 0.2

10.5 ± 0.8

18.8 ± 0.8

Lauric acid (C12) 12.986

—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Palmitic acid (C16) 16.640

Estearic acid (C18) 19.323
Elaidic acid (C18:1) 19.710
Sunflower, corn, and

Oleic acid (C18:1) 19.828

Reference product
Soybean and olive

Linoleic acid (C18:2) 20.623

Table 2.

Passion fruit

Arachidic acid (C20) 23.928

Grapeseed

Sunflower
Andiroba

Soybean
Babassu
Avocado

Coconut

Pracaxia
Copaiba

Linseed

Behenic acid (C22) 28.766

Canola

canola
Cotton
Castor

Pequi
Licuri

Palm
Olive
Corn
Oil

Lignoceric acid (C24) 32.633

a

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 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION

Licuri, also known as ouricuri, is a palm tree fruit commonly
found in the semiarid Cerrado. Its high concentration of caprylic,
capric, and lauric acids provides excellent spreadability and skin
penetration.12 This oil has a low melting point (~30° C), so despite
its solid appearance, it melts as soon as it comes into contact with
human skin. It also has low acidity and high stability. Medium-
chain length fatty acids such as lauric acid (C12:0) derived from
babassu, coconut, and licuri oils are excellent surfactants that are
extensively used in the production of soaps and detergents.13,14
The market for lauric acid alone is estimated to be worth more
than US $1.4 billion annually.15 These results show that the com-
position of licuri oil is very similar to that of coconut oil, and licuri
oil is significantly cheaper than coconut oil.
Monounsaturated fatty acids include oleic acid, an omega 9
fatty acid, which can be synthesized by all mammals, including
humans, and thus represent important EFAs to be considered for
drug formulations for use in wound healing.16 Both omega 3 and
6 essential oils have been shown to have properties that enhance
wound closure and improve healing in several wound models.17–20
Copaiba is a characteristic Amazonian plant popularly used in
Brazil for therapeutic purposes;21 its composition includes palmitic
(11.9%), stearic (4.6%), oleic (42.7%), and linoleic (32.8%) acids.
The pequi oil is a kind of edible oil extracted from pequi seeds
(Caryocar brasiliense), which grow abundantly in Brazil. Pequi oil
is used for culinary, cosmetic, and medicinal purposes, and it can
help heal cracked skin, psoriasis, and eczema.22 Many fatty acids
were found in pequi oil, such as palmitic (36.3%), stearic (2.2%),
oleic (46.7%), linoleic (10.7%), and linolenic (2.3%) acids.22 Pequi
oil also contains vitamin E, vitamin A, and several antioxidants such
as quercetin, gallic acid, quercetin 3-O-arabinose, and quinic acid.
Its main carotenoids are violaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin, with
smaller amounts of β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene, and neoxanthin.23
Sá24 studied the effect of pequi oil on PI healing and found better
results when compared with Dersani.
Andiroba (Carapa guianensis) is used by indigenous Amazonians,
particularly the Caboclos, to treat coughs, convulsions, skin dis-
eases, arthritis, rheumatism, ear infections, wounds, and bruises,
and as an insect repellent. The andiroba oil is a rich source of
EFAs, including oleic, palmitic, myristic, and linoleic acids, and
contains no lipids (triterpenes, tannins, or alkaloids). Andiroba
oil has been shown to be effective in the treatment of actinic der-
matitis and PIs, among other uses.25
Pracaxi oil (Pentaclethra macroloba) is used by several indigenous
Amazonian communities for health applications such as treating
ulcers and bacterial infections.26,27 Pracaxi oil contains high amounts
of oleic, linoleic, and behenic acids, which are frequently used in
the cosmetic industry26 because of their ability to keep skin moist.
Studies have found different concentrations of behenic acid in
pracaxi oil, from 5%,28 16.1%,26 to 19.67%.29 The concentration
of behenic acid found in pracaxi oil in this study was 13.3%. These
variations may occur naturally among plant varieties and could
depend on climate and soil conditions. Pracaxi oil is an excellent
choice for wound healing because of its lipids, which are a vital
component of cell membranes and the epidermis; lipids can also
protect the skin by preventing dehydration.30
Castor oil is obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor
plant (Ricinus communis). Castor oil contains ricinoleic (84%),
oleic (5.5%), linoleic (6.4%), and α-linolenic acids (6.5%). There
is no other commercially produced vegetable oil that has these
components, although plants of the Lesquerella genus also pro-
duce ricinoleic acid. Lesquerella species were proposed as a valu-
able source of ricinoleic acid (up to 70% concentrations in the
oil) but also of lesquerolic acid, the C20 homolog of ricinoleic acid
(14-hydroxy-11-eicosenoic acid).31 One of the most studied species
is Physaria fendleri, formerly Lesquerella fendleri, or Brassicaceae.
This plant corresponds to a new crop of industrial oil seeds pro-
duced in the southwestern region of the US, which has similar
uses to castor oil.31

Table 3.
COMMERCIAL HEALTH PRODUCTS THAT INCLUDE STUDIED OILS
Technical Risk
Commercial Product Manufacturer and Location Name Class Vegetable Oil Register No.
AGE Derm Helianto Farmacêutica LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil Dressing III Sunflower 80225300008
BIOSOMA Óleo Dermoprotetor Copeli Cosméticos e Perfumes LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil Protector II Ribes nigrum, raspberry, and 80487380007
copaíba
Curatec AGE L.M. Farma Indústria e Comércio LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil Dressing III Sunflower 80246910001
D-A.G.E. Ácidos Graxos Helianto Farmacêutica LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil Dressing III Sunflower 80225200013
Essenciais
Derivka AGE Óleo Hadassah Cosméticos LTDA—Goiás, Brazil Dressing IV Sunflower 81196230001
Dersani Original Laboratório Daudt Oliveira LTDA—Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Dressing III Sunflower 80219190002
Lin’Óleo Neve I.N.A. Indústria de Produtos Cirúrgicos—São Paulo, Protector III Sunflower 80234340003
Brazil
Pielsana Óleo Dermoprotetor DBS Indústria e Comércio LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil Dressing III Sunflower, copaíba, and melaleuca 80175820007
Skinage Óleo DBS Indústria e Comércio LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil Protector III Sunflower 80175820006

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 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
Table 4.
COMMERCIAL COSMETICS THAT INCLUDE STUDIED OILS
Commercial Product Manufacturer and Location
AGE Cremer Óleo Cremer S.A.—São Paulo, Brazil
Dermosan Sunnyday Ind. Manipulação e Com. Cosméticos LDTA—Goiás, Brazil
Primoderme Greenwood Indústria e Comércio LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil
Repitelin Cosmiatric Biolab Dermocosméticos LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil
Saniskin Laboratório Daudt Oliveira LTDA—Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sommacare L.M. Farma Indústria e Comércio LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil
Supriderme Greenwood Indústria e Comércio LTDA—São Paulo, Brazil
Because castor oil is composed of 80% to 90% ricinoleic acid, it
has a high viscosity and alcohol solubility at low temperatures. It
can be used as a raw material for biodiesel, but almost all of the
castor oil produced in the world is used by the chemical industry
for manufacturing products with a higher market value, such as
for the antiseptic Ricinus Assept, a product containing 10% castor
oil indicated for wound treatment in veterinary care.32
The Supplemental Table provided at the end of the article pre-
sents several studies that show vegetable oils, fatty acids, and
commercial product potential to promote improvement in closure
and treatment of wounds using different wound models.
In recent years, there has been a trend toward using natural raw
materials in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. This caused a rush to
extract and study the oils from native Amazonian plants, leading
to a quick and significant expansion of the national and interna-
tional markets for these products. The Brazilian National Agency
of Health Surveillance (Anvisa) provides data on registered med-
icines, cosmetics, foods, sanitizers, and healthcare products.33 Dis-
posable health products for wound treatment made from EFA are
registered at Anvisa, including health products and cosmetics
(Tables 3 and 4). Currently, there is no EFA-based product regis-
tered as a medicine. Some articles and websites mention other
vegetable oil-based products for treatment of wounds, for exam-
ple, HIG-MED, which includes castor oil.34,35
New products based on these EFAs may be useful in clinical
practice, especially considering some of these oils have already
been tested in treating wounds and/or PIs. Data suggest that it
may be possible to obtain a product by mixing two or more natural
oils without adding any industrially processed components.33,36,37
CONCLUSIONS
Many of the oils included in this study have a similar fatty acid
profile to the reference commercial lotion, which would suggest
that these oils could be an alternative, natural source of fatty acids
for wound care applications. Licuri and coconut oils may be a
good source of caprylic and capric acids, and copaiba, corn, sun-
flower, soybean, and some combinations of these may be a good
source of oleic and linoleic acids.
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Vegetable Oil Register No.
Andiroba 223510004
Sunflower 218450024
Calendula, sunflower, wheat germ, olive, and shea butter 202920831
Sunflower and wheat germ 227630015
Sunflower 202500088
Sunflower 219550005
Calendula, sunflower, and wheat germ 202920832
Most of these vegetable oils are products of tropical climates,
where these plants are abundant and easy to cultivate, suggesting
a promising economic potential for these plants. These results
would support the development of a new product using a bal-
anced composition of fatty acids from natural sources as an alter-
native method for the treatment of wounds. Additional study
is warranted. •
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indivíduos com feridas crônica [in Portugese]. Rev Bras Cir Plást 2013;28(4):666-71.
2. Anselmi ML, Peduzzi M, França-Junio I. Incidência de úlcera por pressão e ações de
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3. Pereira AL, Bachion MM. Tratamento de feridas: análise da produção científica publicada na
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4. Ananthapadmanabham KP, Mukherjee S, Chandar P. Stratum corneum fatty acids: their
critical role in preserving barrier integrity during cleansing. Int J Cosmet Sci 2013;35:337-45.
5. Banov D, Bassani AS. Permeation enhancers for topical formulations. US Patent 2012/ 0202882
A1. 2012.
6. Polonini HC, Gonçalves KM, Gomes TBB, et al. Amazon native flora oils: in vitro photoprotective
activity and major fatty acids constituents. Rev Bras Farm 2012;93(1):102-8.
7. Hatanaka E, Curi R. Fatty acids and wound healing: a review. Rev Bras Farm 2007;88(2):53-8.
8. Candido LC. Nova abordagem no tratamento de feridas [in Portugese]. São Paulo:
SENAC; 2001.
9. Declair V. Uso de triglicérides de cadeia média na prevenção de úlceras de decúbito [in
Portugese]. Rev Bras Enferm 1994;47(2):127-30.
10. De Nardi AB, Rodaski S, Sousa RS, Baudi DLK, Castro JHT. Secondary cicatrization in
dermoepidermal wounds treated with essential fatty acids, vitamins A and E, soy lecithin
and polynylpyrrolidone-iodine in dogs. Arch Vet Sci 2004;9(1):1-16.
11. Dersani Original. Daudt. www.farmadelivery.com.br/media/upload/pdf/BULAS/DAUDT/
dersani-locao-oleosa-100ml.pdf. Last accessed March 6, 2019.
12. Ramalho CI. Licuri (Syagrus coronata). Grupo de Pesquisa Lavoura Xerófila. www.cca.ufpb.br/
lavouraxerofila/pdf/licuri.pdf. Last accessed March 6, 2019.
13. Bauer LC, Amaral-Damásio JM, Silva MV, Santana DA, Gualberto SA, Simionato JI. Chemical
characterization of pressed and refined licuri (Syagrus coronata) oils Acta Scientiarum.
Technology 2013;35(4):771-6.
14. Costa MNF, Muniz MAP, Negrão CAB, et al. Characterization of Pentaclethra macroloba oil
thermal stability, gas chromatography and Rancimat. J Therm Anal Calorim 2014;115:
2269-75.
15. Dyer JM, Stymne S, Green AG, Carlsson AS. High-value oils from plants. Plant J 2008;54:
640-55.
16. Cardoso CRB, Souza MA, Ferro EAV, Favoreto S, Pena JDO. Influence of topical administration
of n-3 and n-6 essential and n-9 nonessential fatty acids on the healing of cutaneous wounds.
Wound Repair Regen 2004;12(2):235-43.
17. Franco ES, Aquino CMF, Medeiros PL, Evêncio LB, Góes AJS, Maia MBS. Effect of a semisolid
formulation of Linum usitatissimum L. (Linseed) oil on the repair of skin wounds. Evid Based
Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:1-7.
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18. Lewinska A, Zebrowski J, Duda M, Gorka A, Wnuk M. Fatty acid profile and biological activities
of linseed and rapeseed oils. Molecules 2015;20:22872-80.
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of pumpkin and linseed oils on deep second-degree burns in rats. Pharm Biol 2016;54(4):
581-7.
20. Farahpour MR. The evaluation of topical administration of different doses of lintbells oil on
circular excisional wound healing in experimental models. IJVS 2014;9(2):33-38.
21. Montes LV, Broseghini LP, Andreatta FS, Sant’Anna MES, Neves VM, Silva AG. Evidências para
o uso da óleo-resina de copaíba na cicatrização de ferida—uma revisão sistemática [in
Portuguese]. Natureza Online 2009;7(2):61-7.
22. Mariano RGB, Couri S, Freitas SP. Enzymatic technology to improve oil extraction from
Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (pequi) pulp. Rev Bras Frutic 2009;31(3):637-43.
23. Azevedo-Meleiro CH, Rodriguez-Amaya DB. Confirmation of the identity of the carotenoids of
tropical fruits by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS. J Food Compost Anal 2004;17:385-96.
24. Sá MT. Influência do uso do óleo de piqui úlceras por pressão. São José dos Campos:
Universidade Federal de São Paulo; 2013.
25. Miot HA, Batistella RF, Batista KA, Volpato DE, Augusto LS, Madeira NG. Comparative study of
the topical effectiveness of the andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis) and Deet 50% as repellent for
Aedes sp. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2004;46(5):253-6.
26. Costa MNFS, Muniz MAP, Negrão CAB, et al. Characterization of Pentaclethra macroloba oil.
J Therm Anal Calorim 2014;115(3):2269-75.
27. Leal ICR, Júnior II, Pereira EM, et al. Pentaclethra macroloba tannins fractions active against
ADVANCES IN SKIN & WOUND CARE • VOL. 32 NO. 8
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and gram negative strains showing selective toxicity.
Rev Bras Farmacogn 2011;21(6):991-9.
28. Teixeira RDS, Rocha PR, Polonini HC, et al. Mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity and major
fatty acid constituents of Amazonian native flora oils. Braz Pharm Sci 2012;48(3):399-404.
29. Banov D, Banov F, Bassani AS. Case series: the effectiveness of fatty acids from pracaxi oil in
a topical silicone base for scar and wound therapy. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2014;4:259-69.
30. Baby AR, Maciel COM, Santos IMNS, et al. Uso de extratos de plantas em produtos cosméticos
[in Portuguese]. Cosmet Toilet 2005;17(1):78-82.
31. Carlson KD, Chaudhry A, Peterson RE, Bagby MO. Preparative chromatographic isolation of
hydroxy acids from Lesquerella fendleri and L. gordonii seed oils. JAOCS 1990;67(8):495-8.
32. Agroveterinária. Rininus Assept pasta 250gr Vansil. 2018. www.agroveterinaria.com.br/
produto/427-ricinus-assept-pasta-250gr-vansil. Last accessed March 6, 2019.
33. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Consulta a produtos regularizados. 2018. http://
portal.anvisa.gov.br/consulta-produtos-registrados. Last accessed March 6, 2019.
34. Mörschbächer PD, Garcez TNA, Contesini EA. Adjuvantes para cicatrização cutânea [in
Portuguese]. Veterinária em Foco 2012;9(2):173-83.
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auxiliares—parte II [in Portuguese]. An Bras Dermatol 2003;78(5):525-42.
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de um caso [in Portuguese]. Nursing 2002;5(55):23-7.
6 WWW.WOUNDCAREJOURNAL.COM

Supplemental Table.
RESEARCH RELATING TO STUDIED OILS
Vegetable Oil, Fatty Acid,
or Commercial Product
Linseed oil
n-3 and n-6 fatty acids
supplementation
Batiputá (Ouratea species) oil
Linseed oil and tropical creams
2% and 4%
Olive oil supplementation
EFAs and oleic acid
Lucuma (Pouteria lucuma Kezte)
nut oil
Mosqueta rose (Rosa rubiginosa
affinis L.) oil
Andiroba oil
Andiroba oil
Babassu aqueous extract and
andiroba oil
Avocado oil
Copaiba oil
Copaiba oil
Bocaiuva (Acocomia aculeate) pulp Wound in male Wistar rats
oil (oitment 20%)
Linseed oil (semisolid formulation Wound in Wistar rats of both
1 or 5%)
Linseed and pumpkin (Cucurbita
pepo) oils
Pequi (Carvocar brasiliense) oil
Pequi (Carvocar brasiliense) oil
Pequi (Carvocar brasiliense)—
ointment
Sunflower and linseed oil
supplementation
Sunflower oil and MCTs
EFA and 2% papain
WWW.WOUNDCAREJOURNAL.COM
ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
Wound Model
Wound healing in vitro on
fibroblast cells
Wound healing in intestinal
epithelial cells of rats, IEC-6
Wound in male Swiss mice
Wound in Swiss albino mice of
both sex
Cutaneous wound healing in
chronically stressed male
Swiss mice
Wound in male BALB/c mice
Murine model of wound healing
Cutaneous wounds on the back
of rodents
Wound in male Wistar rats
Wound in female Wistar rats
Open wounds in the cecum of
Wistar male rats
Wound in adult Wistar rats of
both sex
Wound in male Wistar rats
Open cutaneous wounds in
male rats
sexes
Burn wounds in male Wistar rats 24 adult rats, 187 ± 10 g
Wound in male Wistar rats
Wound in Wistar rats of both sex 20 adult rats 150–300 g
Wound in male Wistar rats
Wound in male Wistar rats
Wound in male Wistar rats
Skin wounds in male Wistar rats 13 adult rats
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
No. of Subjects Results Reference
Studies In Vitro and in Animals
— Fatty acids improve the process of wound Lewinska et al,1 2015
healing promoting cell proliferation.
— Capacity to modulate both proliferation Ruthig and Meckling-Gill,2 1999
and injury repair processes in rat IEC-6
intestinal epithelial cells
75 adult mice, 30 g Great therapeutic potential to improve Araújo et al,3 2015
cutaneous wound healing
60 adult mice Decrease in inflammatory stage, Farahpour,4 2014
stimulation of the proliferative phase,
cellularity, and improved maturation
90 adult mice, 2–3 mo old Supplementation with olive oil improves Rosa et al,5 2014
cutaneous wound healing
96 adult BALB/c mice, 6–8 wk old n-9 fatty acids induced faster wound Cardoso et al,6 2004
closure when compared with n-3, n-6,
and control
5 adult male CD-1 mice, 22 ± 2 g Promotion of skin regeneration Rojo et al,7 2010
10 adult male Swiss Webster Acceleration of the healing process and Marchini et al,8 1988
mice, 20–30 g and 8 adults male less inflammatory activity
Wistar rats, 150–300 g
30 adult rats Delay of contraction and epithelialization Brito et al,9 2001
in damage of the lesions
81 adult rats, at least 60 days old, Similar results to Vaseline in wound Fernandes et al,10 2014
135-240 g healing, especially at a concentration
of 50%
54 adult rats, age 50–60 d, Better cecum healing compared with Silva et al,11 2015
±275.64 g control group
64 adult rats, age 3–4 mo, Increased collagen synthesis and Oliveira et al,12 2013
200-250 g decreased number of inflammatory cells
120 adult rats, 200–250 g It did not present satisfactory results in Brito,13 1996
the healing process
60 adult rats Further development of granulation tissue Brito et al,14 1999
and increased counts of blood vessels
and collagen fibers
30 adult rats, 180–200 g Favorably stimulates the inflammatory Costa et al,15 2014
phase of wound healing by accelerating
the process and improves the quality
of the scar
72 adult rats, 200–300 g Re-epithelialization in 100% of treated Franco et al,16 2012
animals
Higher percentage of wound contraction Bardaa et al,17 2016
20 adult rats, 300–350 g Positive influence on the healing process Bezerra et al,18 2015
of skin lesions
Significant improvement in wound healing Barros et al,19 2009
40 adult rats, 60 d old Acceleration of the healing process Batista et al,20 2010
32 adult rats, 200–250 g Wound healing process modulated by Otranto et al,21 2010
supplementation with edible oils.
Sunflower showed better results
24 adult rats, 200–250 g Promote reduction of acute and moderate Rocha et al,22 2004
inflammatory response and
neovascularization compared with
untreated lesions
No significant difference between the Hax,23 2009
treatments
continues
7 ADVANCES IN SKIN & WOUND CARE • AUGUST 2019

Supplemental Table.
RESEARCH RELATING TO STUDIED OILS, CONTINUED
Vegetable Oil, Fatty Acid,
or Commercial Product
Linoleic acid, MCTs, soy lecithin,
and vitamins A and E
Oleic and linoleic acids
Coconut oil—ointments
Pistacia lentiscus virgin fatty oil
Sunflower and Calendula officinalis
oil ointments
Sunflower oil
EFA soy lecithin and vitamins A
and E
Sunflower oil
Castor oil (Ricinus Assept, VANSIL)
Calendula and Hypericum oils
Mosqueta rose oil
Pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba) oil
Sunflower and olive oil
EFA with linoleic acid extracted from
sunflower oil, 112 IU vitamin A,
and 5 IU vitamin E
EFA, activated charcoal, and
hyperbaric oxygen therapy
EFA (Age Derm)
Olive oil
Linoleic acid
EFA with MCTs
Abbreviations: EFA, essential fatty acids; MCTs, medium-chain triglycerides.
This table is a supplement to Alves AQ, da Silva VA, Silva Góes AJ, et al. The fatty acid composition of vegetable oils and their potential use in wound care. Adv Skin Wound Care 2019.
ADVANCES IN SKIN & WOUND CARE • VOL. 32 NO. 8
ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION
Wound Model
Wound in male Wistar rats
Wound in male Wistar rats
Wound in female rabbits
Burn in male New Zealand rabbits
Wound in male New Zealand
rabbits
Wound in Saint Inês lambs
Dermoepidermal wounds in
male dogs
Wounds in lumbar and
metacarpal areas of healthy
horses
Case report: barbed wire injury
on a horse’s foreleg
Epithelial reconstruction of
surgical wounds in childbirth
(caesarean section)
Postsurgical scars
Clinical trial—patients with
surgical, traumatic, or burn
wounds and scars
Case control study—cutaneous
manifestations of EFA deficiency
Intact epithelial tissue for
prevention of pressure ulcers
Case study—mediastinitis
dressing
Case study—chronic wounds
Clinical trial—intact tissue for
prevention of pressure injury
Randomized clinical trial
Randomized clinical trial
Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
No. of Subjects Results Reference
45 rats No acceleration of the process of tissue Magalhães et al,24 2008
repair by secondary union
24 rats, 180 ± 20 g Proinflammatory effects of oleic and Pereira et al,25 2008
linoleic acids may speed up the wound
healing process
12 adult rabbits Healing faster and more collagen Batool,26 2012
bundles compared with control
6 adult rabbits Promotes wound contraction and Djerrou et al,27 2010
reduces epithelialization period
27 adult rabbits, 4 kg, 12 mo Effective in healing wounds with Wendt, 28 2005
present infectious process
18 lambs Acceleration of the healing process Marques et al,29 2004
9 adult mixed breed dogs, 12 kg, Acceleration of the healing process De Nardi et al,30 2004
3–5 y old
6 adult horses Beneficial in the healing process Oliveira,31 2010
One horse affected by a severe The animal showed complete healing Calciolari et al,32 2014
laceration on the foreleg of the lesion with 90% recovery of its
motor capacity allowing moderate
activity
Studies in Humans
24 female patients Better result than the control group Lavagna et al,33 2001
50 patients Improvement of the healing process Cañellas et al,34 2008
leaving a minimum scar, although
without healing acceleration
21 patients Improvements in wound healing Banov,35 2014; and Banov
and scar attributes et al,36 2014
3 EFA-deficient patients and The level of linoleic acid in their Prottey and Hartop,37 1975
control patients (4 males and epidermal lecithin was markedly
3 females) increased; the rate of transepidermal
water loss was significantly decreased,
and the scaly lesions disappeared
Review article Maintenance of skin hydration and Rosa et al,38 2013
elasticity
1 patient Granulation tissue rapid formation Marques et al,39 2002
and acceleration of damage tissue
closure edges
1 patient with diabetic foot and Fatty acids represent a good option for Godoy and Prado,40 2005
another patient with venous ulcer cleaned wound, allowing good tolerance
and easy maintenance
60 patients Topical olive oil has the potential to Madadi et al,41 2015
prevent pressure injuries in ICU patients
100 patients with chronic ulcers Linoleic acid improves three phases of Declair,42 2002
of different etiologies the healing process and is an alternative
treatment for lesions, especially
chronic lesions
27 patients with heart disease Effectiveness of the solution of EFA Goldmeier,43 1997
and pressure injuries with MCTs compared with the control
solution
8 WWW.WOUNDCAREJOURNAL.COM