Paeoniflorin promotes angiogenesis and tissue regeneration in a full-thickness cutaneous wound model through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

The treatment of wounds remains a clinical challenge because of poor angiogenesis under the wound bed, and increasingly, the patients' need for functional and aesthetically pleasing scars. For the wound healing process, new blood vessels which can deliver nutrients and oxygen to the wound area are necessary. In this study, we investigated the pro-angiogenesis ability and mechanism in wound healing of paeoniflorin (PF), which is a traditional Chinese medicine. In our in vitro results, the ability for proliferation, migration and in vitro angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was promoted by coculturing with PF (1.25-5 µM). Meanwhile, molecular docking studies revealed that PF has excellent binding abilities to phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT), and consistent with our western blot results, that PF suppressed PI3K and AKT phosphorylation. Furthermore, to investigate the healing effect of PF in vivo, we constructed a full-thickness cutaneous wound model in rats. PF stimulated the cellular proliferation status, collagen matrix deposition and remodeling processes in vitro and new blood vessel formation at the wound bed resulting in efficient wound healing after intragastric administration of 10 mg·kg-1 ·day-1 in vivo. Overall, PF performed the pro-angiogenetic effect in vitro and accelerating wound healing in vivo. In summary, the capacity for angiogenesis in endothelial cells could be enhanced by PF treatment via the PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro and could accelerate the wound healing process in vivo through collagen deposition and angiogenesis in regenerated tissue. This study provides evidence that application of PF represents a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cutaneous wounds.

Effects of Rhizoma Drynariae Cataplasm on Fracture Healing in a Rat Model of Osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is an increasingly prevalent disease characterized by decreased bone mass and deterioration of the bone microstructure, which contribute to increased fragility and subsequent fragility fractures, especially in elderly individuals. Rhizoma Drynariae (DRE) is among the most frequently used herbal medicines for the treatment of osteoporosis. Transdermal delivery is a proven novel pathway for drug treatment and has several advantages over traditional drug delivery routes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Female Sprague-Dawley osteoporotic fracture model rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group, the DRE (90 mg/kg/day) group and the DRE cataplasm (containing 30 mg DRE, administered at right femur site daily) group. At 3 and 6 weeks after operation, we performed x-ray, histological, and biomechanical analyses, and evaluated bone marrow density of the femur. RESULTS Treatment with DRE increased callus formation and bone union compared with the control group. Moreover, DRE enhanced bone strength at the femoral diaphysis in the osteoporotic fractures in rats by increasing the ultimate load and stiffness compared with the control group. Furthermore, DRE restored the trabecular bone mineral density in the femur compared with the control group. DRE cataplasm application further enhanced the therapeutic effects against osteoporotic fracture in this rat model. CONCLUSIONS DRE cataplasm application might be useful against osteoporotic fracture.

Effects of the traditional Chinese medicine baicalein on the viability of random pattern skin flaps in rats.

BACKGROUND: Random skin flaps are routinely placed during plastic and reconstructive surgery, but the distal areas often develop ischemia and necrosis. Baicalein, a major flavonoid extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine huangqin, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, may improve flap viability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into baicalein and control groups and they underwent placement of modified McFarlane flaps after intraperitoneal administration of baicalein or vehicle. Flap survival and water content were measured 7 days later, as were angiogenesis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in ischemic flaps. RESULTS: Baicalein promoted flap survival, reduced edema, increased mean vessel density, and enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor production at both the translational and transcriptional levels. Baicalein reduced caspase 3 cleavage, increased superoxidase dismutase and glutathione levels, and decreased the malondialdehyde level. CONCLUSION: Baicalein promoted flap viability by stimulating angiogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis and oxidation.