Spruce Balm-Based Semisolid Vehicles for Wound Healing: Effect of Excipients on Rheological Properties and Ex Vivo Skin Permeation.

The treatment of chronic wounds, an important issue with the growing elderly population, is increasingly hindered by antibiotic resistance. Alternative wound care approaches involve the use of traditional plant-derived remedies, such as purified spruce balm (PSB), with antimicrobial effects and the promotion of cell proliferation. However, spruce balm is difficult to formulate due to its stickiness and high viscosity; dermal products with satisfying technological properties and the scientific literature on this topic are scarce.