Mechanisms of Modified Xiexintang Ointment in Promoting Healing of Deep Second-degree Scald Wounds in Mice
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20251728
- VernacularTitle:加味泻心汤膏剂促进小鼠深Ⅱ度烫伤创面愈合的机制
- Author:
Changhe LIU
1
;
Dandan JIAN
1
;
Huani LI
1
;
Yanyan WANG
1
;
Hongyi LIU
2
Author Information
1. Henan Integrative Medicine Hospital， Zhengzhou 450004，China
2. Henan University of Chinese Medicine， Zhengzhou 450046，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
modified Xiexintang ointment;
deep second-degree scald;
wound healing;
inflammatory factors;
nerve growth factor（NGF）
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(18):134-142
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the pharmacological effects of modified Xiexintang ointment on anti-infection and promotion of wound healing in mice with deep second-degree scalds， as well as its underlying mechanisms. MethodsA mouse model of deep second-degree scald was established and mice were randomly divided into six groups： blank group， model group， positive control group （Jingwanhong ointment， 0.1 g·cm-2）， low-， medium-， and high-dose modified Xiexintang ointment group （0.05， 0.1， and 0.2 g·cm-2）， with 10 mice in each group. Treatment was administered for 16 days. Wound recovery was recorded by photography， and the wound healing rate was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe histopathological changes in the scalded skin tissues. The levels of inflammatory cytokines， including interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and cluster of differentiation 31 （CD31） in wound tissues. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expression levels of nerve growth factor （NGF）， its high-affinity receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase A （TrkA）， and its low-affinity receptor nerve growth factor receptor （NGFR）. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the burn site in the model group showed swelling and whitening on the day of modeling， followed by hardening and scab formation on the next day. HE staining on day 2 revealed dermal tissue damage， swelling and degeneration of collagen fibers with homogeneous eosinophilic staining， partial destruction of hair follicles and sebaceous glands， and inflammatory cell infiltration in the dermis， indicating successful model establishment. Compared with the model group， from day 8 of treatment， the low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of modified Xiexintang ointment significantly increased the wound healing rate （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all dose groups significantly promoted thickening of the newly formed epidermis， reduced hemorrhage， decreased inflammatory cell infiltration， and increased neovascularization. Compared with the model group， all dose groups significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in wound tissues （P<0.01）. Meanwhile， the expression levels of angiogenesis-related proteins VEGF and CD31 in wound tissues were significantly increased in all dose groups （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the protein expression levels of NGF， NGFR， and TrkA were increased in the medium-dose group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. With increasing dosage， the high-dose group showed a more pronounced increase in NGF， NGFR， and TrkA expression compared with the model group （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Xiexintang ointment exerts anti-infective and wound-healing effects on skin wounds in mice with deep second-degree scalds. The underlying mechanisms may be related to the regulation of VEGF， CD31， NGF， TrkA， and NGFR protein expression， thereby reducing inflammation and promoting angiogenesis and nerve regeneration at the wound site.
