Additive effect of pulp pequi oil (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) on the biocompatibility of collagen and gelatin membranes in subcutaneous implants

ABSTRACT Trauma or disease inflicted by tissue injuries may cause tissue degeneration. The use of biomaterials for direct or indirect repair has emerged as a promising alternative, and has become an important research topic. The pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) has shown antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, healing, antitumor, and antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to develop a new biomaterial using a combination of collagen, gelatin, and pulp pequi oil, and to evaluate its biocompatibility in comparison with that of biomaterials produced without pulp pequi oil. Membranes were prepared from a mixture of bovine tendon collagen, commercial gelatin, and pulp pequi oil. The inflammatory and cicatricial processes were assessed via histopathology of the tissue interface/implants in the subcutaneous tissues and quantitative evaluation of leukocyte and collagen production in Wistar rats. It was observed that the presence of pequi oil reduced the amount of foreign-body giant cells and favored the recruitment of fibroblasts (P< 0.01), thereby promoting greater production of collagen membrane than that in the membranes of control samples. Therefore, it can be concluded that the addition of pequi oil improved the biocompatibility of collagen and accelerated the healing process.