Dracorhodin Perchlorate Regulates the Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines through the TLR4 Pathway and Improves Skin Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND: Dragon's blood is a natural medicine with hemostatic and blood-activating effects and is used to promote wound healing. Dracorhodin perchlorate (DP) is a stable form of dracarhod and is used as a substitute for cochinchinenin. DP promotes the proliferation of rat fibroblasts and promotes wound healing in rats. METHODS: DP ointment (0.2 mg/mL) was applied to the skin wounds of nondiabetic and diabetic rats, and the skin of the wound was collected. Wound healing rate, H&E staining, Masson staining, TLR4 pathway, related inflammatory factors, nitric oxide synthase, and so forth were detected. RESULTS: DP treatment alleviated the prolonged inflammatory cell infiltration time and the increase in the TLR4 pathway and inflammatory factors caused by diabetes. DP also promoted wound healing by increasing eNOS protein expression and NO content in the later stage of wound healing. CONCLUSION: DP promotes wound healing in diabetic rats by regulating the TLR4 pathway and related inflammatory factors. Therefore, adjuvant treatment of DP can be developed for diabetic wound healing.