An integrated in vitro and in silico approach to evaluate the safety and wound healing potential of Dracocephalum moldavica L. seed oil.

Dracocephalum moldavica L. seed oil (DMS), obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction, has a chemical fingerprint dominated by unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols, supporting anti-inflammatory and skin-protective relevance. This study evaluated the topical safety profile and functional plausibility of DMS as a dermocosmetic ingredient using a non-animal testing framework. Phototoxicity was assessed using the 3T3 NRU phototoxicity assay (OECD TG 432), and skin irritation was evaluated in a reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) model. Regenerative potential was examined using a keratinocyte scratch assay and a RHE-based wound model to assess re-epithelialization responses. In parallel, a network-based in silico analysis was performed to explore biological plausibility by linking DMS-associated compounds to relevant biological processes and pathways in skin. Under the tested conditions, DMS was classified as non-phototoxic and non-irritant. DMS also enhanced wound closure in the scratch assay and promoted re-epithelialization in the 3D RHE wound model with regenerative efficacy peaking at an optimal concentration and declining at higher doses. Network analysis pointed to candidate processes involved in inflammation, cellular stress, and tissue repair that are consistent with the in vitro findings. Collectively, these results indicate that DMS is non-phototoxic and non-irritant under the tested conditions and shows concentration-dependent regenerative potential relevant to cosmetic ingredient development.