Salsolinol, a constituent from herbal plant, accelerated wound healing in diabetic rats

抄録

Background:

Wound healing is a major problem in diabetes, delayed wound recovery increases the risk of lower limb amputation. Salsolinol is an alkaloid from herbal plant. In our previous study, it was found to stimulate AMPK activity and lower plasma glucose level of diabetic animals. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of salsolinol on wound recovery of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Methods:

　Full-thickness cutaneous wound in STZ-induced diabetic rats were topically treated with vehicle, vehicle-containing salsolinol (0.01 to 1 mg/g), metformin (1 mg/g) or Swivazin-HN cream daily on 15 consecutive days. The wound healing rate and tissue content of hydroxyproline and angiogenic factors were measured.

Results:

　Salsolinol-treated diabetic wounds had an accelerated closure rate compared with the vehicle-treated diabetic wounds. The wound closure rate of salsolinol-treated diabetic rats is like that of Swivazin-treated rats. Metformin treatment, however, failed to accelerate wound closure. Wound hydroxyproline and VEGF were increased in salsolinol-treated group. The acceleration of wound closure by salsolinol was retarded by combined-treatment with phentolamine.

Conclusion:

　Our studies indicate that salsolinol has a potential to become a useful drug in the treatment of diabetic wound.

Keywords: diabetes, diabetic wound healing, heal plant, salsolinol, metformin