Effects Of Astragalus Heteropolysaccharides On The Healing Of The Wounded Mice Skin

[Objectives] The wounded skin mouse models were established to investigate the effect of astragalus heteropolysaccharides(APS) administrated orally on the speed of wound healing and on the expression of TGF-β1 gene in an attempt to provide theoretical and practical bases for the treatment of injury via APS. [Methods] 54 male mice with wounded skin were randomly grouped into treatment groups and control group and were administrated orally 500 mg/kg body weight with APS daily for 8 days. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to examine the mRNA level and the content of expressed protein of the gene encoding TGF-β1 on the wounded skin sampled from the model mice each day. [Results]1. On Day 3 after taking APS, scab was formed and no inflammation swollen was observed. The wounded area of the control group was a little bigger than the treatment group. From Day 5 on, the healing speed of the treatment group was obviously faster than the control group. The healing rate of the treating group and the control group were 48.60±10.12% and 36.02±6.69% respectively. The scab became to fall off from the wounded skin and hyperplasy of the granulation tissue can be observed on the Day 8 after treatment. The heating rate increased to 67.26±7.14% in comparison to the 53.28±7.90% of the control group.2. The results of real-time PCR suggested that APS can significantly and constantly promoted the expression of TGF-β1 in the skin tissue in a time-dependant way. [Conclusion] 1. APS can hasten the formation of granulation tissue and thus accelerate the healing the skin traumatic injury.2. APS can effectively improve the repair of the tissue injury, shorten the healing time and increase the healing rate.3. APS can increase the expression of the tissue repair related gene of cytokine TGF-β1 and thus hasten the wound healing.