Development of Linaria scariosa Herbal Cream: Formulation, In Vivo Wound Healing, and In Vitro Biological Evaluation

Abstract Aim Managing infected wounds and controlling oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbial infections during the wound-healing process present significant challenges in both human and veterinary medicine. This study aimed to develop a herbal cream based on Linaria scariosa (LS) extract and evaluate its wound healing, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Material and Methods The LS-herbal cream was formulated using a water/oil emulsion, following standard procedures, and its physicochemical, rheological, and microbiological properties were verified. The in vivo wound-healing effect was evaluated using the excision wound model. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by the heat-induced hemolysis method, while antioxidant activity was evaluated through five different assays. Moreover, antimicrobial activity was tested using the disk agar diffusion method. Results Moderate to low contents of terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, and carotenoids were estimated. The LS-cream exhibited a significant ability to inhibit thermally induced hemolysis (IC 50 = 338.01±0.25 μg/mL). Moreover, it showed moderate antimicrobial effects against all the tested strains. LS-cream displayed moderate total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical scavenging, permanganate-reducing, and iron chelating effects. The formulation showed good stability, a skin-compatible pH (6.8 ± 0.09), a satisfactory microbiological safety profile, and acceptable physicochemical and rheological properties after storage. Topical application of the LS-cream on excision wounds resulted in a significant wound-healing effect, including increased wound contraction rates and a reduced epithelization period (16.33±0.22 days). Histopathological examination indicated that the observed enhancement in healing was mainly due to improved epithelialization and favorable histological features consistent with tissue remodeling and repair. Conclusion The LS-herbal cream demonstrates a promising pharmaceutical formulation with effective wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.