keratinocytes can be regulated by various factors. It was found that UV irradiation and small molecules such as estrodiol , purines, pyrimidines and calcitonin gene related peptide SB 216763 can stimulate the growth of keratinocytes. More importantly, keratinocyte proliferation is influenced by a number of biological growth factors such as keratinocyte growth factor , epidermal growth factor , IL 6,granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor , hepatocyte growth factor , transforming growth factor a and b that form the molecular basis of the interaction between keratinocytes and other cells during wound healing . The molecular mechanism of the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation has also been investigated intensively and it has been found that protein kinases contribute significantly in the regulation .
Herbal products are used intensively for wound healing in traditional medicine in some countries such as China and India . However, as the composition and pharmacological mechanism are largely unknown, the utilization of herbal medicine is not well accepted in Western medical culture . Therefore, more scientific investigations must be done Leflunomide clinical trial to address the safety and efficiency concerns in herbal medicines. Radix Astragali Bge.) and Radix Rehmanniae are traditional Chinese medicinal herbs which have been used as a treatment for diabetes as well as some other internal diseases , possibly by promoting cell growth as it was found that extracts from both of these two herbs could enhance the proliferation of mammalian cells, such as endothelial HUVEC cells , pancreatic islet cells , neuronal RSC 96 Schwann cells and bone marrow cells .
Interestingly, clinical research has demonstrated that a combined extract from Radix Astragali and Radix Rehmanniae also works in the treatment of diabetic foot ulceration. By orally administering the broths made from medical herbs, a Hong Kong group managed to rescue more than 80% of recruited Leflunomide structure patients with extensive diabetic foot ulceration from limb amputation . The effect of this herbal formula NF3 on wound healing was then verified in a diabetic foot ulcer rat model . Since the glucose levels in diabetic rats were not influenced during the treatment, Lau et al. suggested that the herbal medicines did not exert an effect on diabetic foot ulcer by relieving the syndrome in diabetes , but possibly by promoting the proliferation and viability of cells related to wound healing .
If that is the case, the further molecular mechanism under which the herbal extract exerts its effect on wound healing needs to be elucidated. In this study, it was shown that NF3 , stachyose and extract P2 2 promote the proliferation of keratinocytes that play critical roles in wound healing. Further it was found that the Leflunomide solubility growth factor receptors on the keratinocyte surface may mediate the effect of the herbal extract NF3. This work has further elucidated the mechanism under which herbal medicine exerts its effect on wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation of herbal health and disease formula NF3 and extract P2 2. Preparation of a simplified two herb formula from Radix Astragali Bge.) and Radix Rehmanniae that were mixed in the ratio of 2:1 has been described by Tam et al.