Journal of Inflammation Research (Sep 2023)
Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza Ameliorates Burn Injuries by Reducing Inflammation and Promoting Wound Healing
Abstract
Shuo Tian,1,2 Lin Guo,3 Yagang Song,1,2 Huiyan Yang,1 Jia Wang,3 Jingyi Qiao,1,2 Xiangxiang Wu,1,2 Ming Bai,1,2 Mingsan Miao1,2 1Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People’s Republic of China; 2Henan Collaborative Innovation Center for Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Mingsan Miao, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center for Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450046, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 371 65962546, Email [email protected]: Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza (RSM), a commonly used medicinal plant, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects, but relevant studies on burn injuries are lacking. We investigated the anti-inflammation and wound healing (WH) effects of an aqueous extract of RSM on a burn model in rats.Methods: The effects of RSM were studied by heat-induced burns in rats, treatment with vehicle, Jinwanhong ointment, and RSM (1.5 or 0.75 g/mL). Indicators of burn tissue (BT) were photographed by digital machines and analyzed. The microcirculation in BT was detected by scattered full-frame real-time imaging. Levels of inflammatory mediators and growth factors were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining. Local pathologic changes in BT were observed by hematoxylin-and-eosin (HE) staining. Ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography–linear ion trap–Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC–LTQ–Orbitrap-MS) was used to explore the absorption of RSM in local skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle tissue, serum, liver tissue, and kidney tissue.Results: RSM treatment could reduce the wound area, increase percent WH, increase blood perfusion in BT, reduce serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), increase levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in serum, and increase protein expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), TGF-β 1, EGF, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF)-1 in skin tissues. RSM treatment led to micro-absorption in the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscle, but not in the blood, liver, or kidney.Conclusion: RSM may promote WH by exerting anti-inflammatory effects, improving local-wound microcirculation, and accelerating the metabolism at the wound surface.Keywords: Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza, burns, anti-inflammatory, wound healing
