N-Carboxybutyl chitosan (CBC), collagen/cellulose (Promogran (R)) and hyaluronic acid-based (Hyalofill (R)) polymeric matrices/dressings were loaded with an extract obtained from juca (Libidibia ferrea) and in order to develop wound dressings endowed with anti-inflammatory activity. juca fruits were subjected to supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 at 25 MPa and 50 degrees C and the resulting extract was later incorporated into the above referred wound dressings by a supercritical fluid impregnation/deposition method (SSI). GC analysis revealed that the obtained SFE extract is particularly rich in unsaturated (52%) and saturated (26%) fatty acids as well as in terpenoids (13%) such as lupenone and gamma-sitosterol. Extract loading yields depended on the affinity of the hydrophobic extract for the specifically employed wound dressing material and was almost 2-fold greater for CBC than for the other two commercial wound dressings. The prepared extract-loaded dressings were cytocompatible with RAW 264.7 macrophages (viability >85% at 24 h) and down-regulated the expression of TNF-alpha. and IL-1 alpha pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as the production of nitric oxide, which confirms the anti-inflammatory capacity of the employed juca extract. Nevertheless, such effect was somehow counteracted by a pro-inflammatory activity that was exhibited by CBC. Prepared dressings presented a wide range of water vapor ((2.9-14.7) x 10(14) kg/(s m Pa)) and oxygen permeability (150 up to 830 barrer) which make them potentially suitable for the management of various wound types at different healing stages. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.