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

Abstract

Renjin Lin,1,2,* Jinti Lin,1,2,* Shihen Li,1,2 Jian Ding,1,2 Hongqiang Wu,1,2 Guangheng Xiang,1,2 Shi Li,1,2 Yijia Huang,2 Dingsheng Lin,1,2 Weiyang Gao,1,2 Jianzhong Kong,1,2 Huazi Xu,1,2 Kailiang Zhou1,2 1Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; 2The Second Clinical Medical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China *These authors contributed equally to this work 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. Keywords: baicalein, random skin flap, angiogenesis, apoptosis, oxidation

Keywords

• Baicalein
• random skin flap
• angiogenesis
• apoptosis
• oxidation