Planta Med 2012; 78 - CL71
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320306

The diabetic wound healing effect of a two-herb formula and its mechanisms of action

CBS Lau 1, 2, VKM Lau 1, 2, CL Liu 1, 2, 3, PKK Lai 1, 2, JCW Tam 1, 2, SMH To 1, 2, FHF Kwok 1, 2, CP Lau 1, 2, ECH Ko 1, 2, JCN Chan 4, SKS Poon 5, PC Leung 1, 2, KP Fung 1, 2, 3
  • 1Institute of Chinese Medicine
  • 2State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China (CUHK)
  • 3School of Biomedical Sciences
  • 4Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
  • 5School of Information Technologies, The University of Sydney, Australia

The dried roots of Astragalus membranaceus (AR) and Rehmannia glutinosa (RR) are two herbs commonly used in Chinese medicines for relieving diabetes and its complications. The objective of present study was to examine the wound healing effect of formula NF3 (AR and RR in the ratio of 2:1) in diabetic rats, and its potential mechanisms of action in fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis and inflammation control in vitro. Using diabetic foot ulcer animal model, NF3 (0.98g/kg) was found to significantly promote wound closure when compared to control (water) group. In the in vitro mechanistic studies, NF3 could significantly i) stimulate fibroblast (Hs27) proliferation; ii) increase cell migration and tubule formation of endothelial cells (HUVEC and HMEC-1); and iii) inhibit nitric oxide production from LPS-stimulated macrophage cells (RAW 264.7). In conclusion, herbal formula NF3 could enhance diabetic wound healing through actions of tissue regeneration, angiogenesis and anti-inflammation. The diabetic wound healing effect of NF3 was attributed to the synergistic interaction between its two component herbs. The roles of these two herbs in different underlying mechanisms of action, as well as the clinical efficacy of NF3 will also be presented.