Effect of Ampelopsis Radix on wound healing in scalded rats

BACKGROUND: Ampelopsis Radix has been used as a traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of burns and scalds. However, there has been no scientific research to date on the wound healing properties of Ampelopsis Radix for scald burns. This study aimed to evaluate the healing effect of Ampelopsis japonica root tuber ethanol extract (AJE) on induced cutaneous scald injury in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. METHODS: Hot water scalds were induced in SD rats, who were then divided into the following 5 groups; 1) control group without treatment, 2) positive control group with 1 % Silver sulfadiazine (SSD), 3) Vaseline group, and groups 4) and 5) that used Vaseline containing 5 % and 20 % AJE, respectively. The ointment was applied topically to the experimental rats, once daily for 21 days, starting at 24 h post induction of the scald injury. Gross examination, measurement of wound size, and histopathological examination were performed. And quantitative measurement of cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Clinical evaluation showed that the AJE and Vaseline groups, rapidly desquamated scab on day 12 post-scalding; in particular, the 20 % AJE group achieved the greatest extent of skin recovery. Sizes of scald wound were significantly lower on days 12, 15, 18, and 21 in the AJE treated groups compared to the control groups. Histopathological evaluation showed a well-organized epithelial layer, angiogenesis, tissue granulation and collagen formation with the exception of inflammatory cells in the AJE-treated groups compared to the control groups on day 14, indicating that tissue regeneration had occurred. AJE treatment decreased TNF-α and increased IL-10 levels on days 2 and 14, indicating the anti-inflammatory action of AJE. The AJE groups also showed a decrease in TGF-β1 levels on day 7 and VEGF on day 14 in the serum of scald inflicted SD rat model. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AJE possesses scald wound healing activity via accelerating the scald wound repair during the inflammation and proliferative phases of the healing process.