Salvianolic Acid B Attenuates Hypertrophic Scar Formation In Vivo and In Vitro

Chinese and western medicine treatment of myocardial fibrosis drugs

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a common pathological manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, and sudden cardiac death. It is characterized by excessive proliferation and activation of fibroblasts, transformation into myofibroblasts, and, eventually, excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix, resulting in heart damage. Currently, modern drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and β-blockers can improve myocardial fibrosis in clinical treatment, but their therapeutic effect on this disease is limited, with obvious side effects and high cost. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the advantages of multiple targets, low cost, and few side effects. Traditional Chinese medicines, such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, Astragalus, and Angelica extracts, and patent Chinese medicines, such as Qiliqiangxin capsules, Shenqi Yiqi dropping pills, and Tongxinluo capsules, can improve myocardial fibrosis. In this review, current Chinese and Western medicine methods for treating myocardial fibrosis are discussed. The signaling pathways and targets of Chinese and Western medicine are involved in the treatment of myocardial fibrosis. This review aimed to provide valuable insights and ideas for both clinical treatment and basic research on myocardial fibrosis.

pH-responsive hydrogel with dual-crosslinked network of polyvinyl alcohol/boric acid for controlled release of salvianolic acid B: novel pro-regenerative mechanisms in scar inhibition and wound healing

This study investigates a novel pH-responsive hydrogel composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and boric acid (BA) designed for the controlled release of salvianolic acid B (SAB), addressing the critical challenge of scar formation and skin regeneration. The dual-crosslinked network architecture of the hydrogel exhibits remarkable pH sensitivity, enabling it to achieve a peak SAB release within 48 hours in the acidic microenvironment characteristic of early-stage wound healing. In vitro assessments demonstrated that the PVA-BA-SAB hydrogel significantly inhibits fibroblast activation and mitigates abnormal collagen deposition, effectively preventing excessive scar formation. Transcriptome sequencing reveals the potential role of PVA-BA-SAB hydrogel in balancing TGF-β and Wnt signaling pathways. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed enhanced tissue regeneration, characterized by improved collagen organization and increased vascularization, as well as the promotion of mature hair follicle development. The hydrogel's biocompatibility, mechanical robustness and adhesive properties were also thoroughly evaluated, confirming its suitability for clinical applications. These findings suggest that the PVA-BA-SAB hydrogel fully exerts the excellent characteristics of biomaterials and maximizes the pharmacological effect of SAB. Our innovative drug delivery system not only facilitates enhanced wound healing but also offers a strategic approach to minimize scarring. This research provides valuable insights into innovative therapeutic strategies for effective wound management and tissue repair.

Natural products for the treatment of hypertrophic scars: Preclinical and clinical studies

Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a complication of wound healing that causes physiological and psychological distress in patients. However, the possible mechanism underlying HS is not fully understood, and there is no gold standard for its treatment. Natural products are more effective, economical, convenient, and safe than existing drugs, and they have a wide application prospect. However, there is a lack of literature on this topic, so we reviewed in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies and screened natural products showing beneficial effects on HS that can become potential therapeutic agents for HS to fill in the gaps in the field. In addition, we discussed the drug delivery systems related to these natural products and their mechanisms in the treatment of HS. Generally speaking, natural products inhibit inflammation, myofibroblast activation, angiogenesis, and collagen accumulation by targeting interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α, vascular endothelial growth factors, platelet-derived growth factors, and matrix metalloproteinases, so as to play an anti-HS effects of natural products are attributed to their anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenesis, and pro-apoptotic (enhancing apoptosis and autophagy) roles, thus treating HS. We also screened the potential therapeutic targets of these natural compounds for HS through network pharmacology and constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, which may provide clues for the pharmacological mechanism of natural products in treating this disease and the development and application of drugs.

Preparation of Compound Salvia miltiorrhiza-Blumea balsamifera Nanoemulsion Gel and Its Effect on Hypertrophic Scars in the Rabbit Ear Model

Hypertrophic scars (HS) still remain an urgent challenge in the medical community. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the treatment of HS. However, due to the natural barrier of the skin, it is difficult for the natural active components of TCM to more effectively penetrate the skin and exert therapeutic effects. Therefore, the development of an efficient drug delivery system to facilitate enhanced transdermal absorption of TCM becomes imperative for its clinical application. In this study, we designed a compound Salvia miltiorrhiza-Blumea balsamifera nanoemulsion gel (CSB-NEG) and investigated its therapeutic effects on rabbit HS models. The prescription of CSB-NEG was optimized by single-factor, pseudoternary phase diagram, and central composite design experiments. The results showed that the average particle size and PDI of the optimized CSB-NE were 46.0 ± 0.2 nm and 0.222 ± 0.004, respectively, and the encapsulation efficiency of total phenolic acid was 93.37 ± 2.56%. CSB-NEG demonstrated excellent stability and skin permeation in vitro and displayed a significantly enhanced ability to inhibit scar formation compared to the CSB physical mixture in vivo. After 3 weeks of CSB-NEG treatment, the scar appeared to be flat, pink, and flexible. Furthermore, this treatment also resulted in a decrease in the levels of the collagen I/III ratio and TGF-β1 and Smad2 proteins while simultaneously promoting the growth and remodeling of microvessels. These findings suggest that CSB-NEG has the potential to effectively address the barrier properties of the skin and provide therapeutic benefits for HS, offering a new perspective for the prevention and treatment of HS.