Evaluation of wound closure activity of cocos nucifera oil on scratched monolayer of human dermal fibroblasts

Abstract

Cocos nucifera L. has been widely used in Malaysia for traditional skin moisturiser and as a food supplement for centuries. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) contains predominantly medium chain fatty acids of which 45 - 50 % is lauric acid (C12). VCO has also been reported to contain antioxidants and polyphenols. In this study, integrated wet extracts of VCO was investigated for its efficacy on cell viability and migration in fibroblast cells (HSF 1184). The in-vitro wound healing assay was developed at a density of 3 × 105 cells/well in 6-wells plate to 80 % confluence. A straight line scratch was performed using a sterile 200 μL pipette tip to create a wound on the monolayer culture. The treatment medium of VCO (0.1 - 1.0 mg/mL), ascorbic acid (5 μg/mL) (positive control) and serum-free media (control) were filled in the 6-wells culture plate. Wound closure image at the same location was taken under inverted microscope at various intervals (0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h). The percentage of wound closure was calculated and analysed using Image J software. As a result, the percentage of wound closure for HSF 1184 using VCO extract 1.0 mg/mL was about 56.89 ± 2.35 % comparable to ascorbic acid (55.65 ± 1.08 %) after 24 h of treatment time. The wound closure for VCO 0.5 mg/mL was about 60.51 ± 3.22 % and VCO 0.1 mg/mL (61.66 ± 3.62 %) after 24 h. In conclusion, VCO contains antioxidants and phenolic compounds that might promote the proliferation and migration of cells to enhance wound closure activity on human dermal fibroblast cells.