Cymbopogon proximus essential oil promotes wound healing and attenuates inflammation through mechanisms supported by network pharmacology and molecular docking

Abstract

Cymbopogon proximus Chiov. (Poaceae), widely used in traditional medicine for inflammatory conditions, was investigated for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing pharmacological potential through an integrated phytochemical, biological, and in silico approach. Essential oils from Cymbopogon proximus and Cymbopogon citratus were isolated by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with chemometric discrimination. Biological screening first assessed safety and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro using cytotoxicity evaluation, human red blood cell membrane stabilization, and modulation of inflammatory gene expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated white blood cells. Based on the superior in vitro profile, C. proximus essential oil was advanced to in vivo pharmacological evaluation in an excisional wound model, with assessment of wound contraction, histopathology, and inflammatory biomarkers. C. proximus exhibited a distinct piperitone-dominant volatile profile and demonstrated stronger anti-inflammatory activity than C. citratus, evidenced by membrane-stabilizing effects and downregulation of key pro-inflammatory mediators, particularly tumor necrosis factor alpha, within non-cytotoxic concentrations. Topical administration accelerated wound closure, improved re-epithelialization, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, with activity comparable to a reference topical preparation. Network pharmacology and molecular docking further supported a multi-target mechanism involving inflammation- and repair-related signaling nodes. Collectively, these findings identify C. proximus essential oil as a promising multi-component anti-inflammatory agent with therapeutic potential in inflammation-driven wound repair.