Resina draconis extract improves wound healing in rats with laser burn.

BACKGROUND

Burns can result in damage to the skin and subcutaneous soft tissues, leading to temporary or permanent injuries. Resina Draconis (RD), extracted from the trunk of the dragon blood tree, possesses high medicinal value and exhibits properties that promote blood circulation, antioxidation, and anti-inflammation. However, the effects of RD on wound healing in laser burn remain unclear.

METHODS

Rats were exposed to the fractional CO2 laser to generate a standardized second-degree laser burn, thereby establishing the acute skin barrier disruption model. Changes in tissue morphology were assessed through histological examination (HE) staining. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were evaluated through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression was confirmed through an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. Key protein expression levels were further analyzed by western blotting.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that RD significantly accelerated wound healing in rats with laser burn. Additionally, the enhanced inflammatory response induced by laser burn was markedly attenuated following RD treatment. Furthermore, RD promoted angiogenesis in rats with laser burn. Finally, RD was shown to increase the p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR protein levels, indicating that RD was associated with activation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

RD extract effectively performed skin barrier repair, restored steady-state regulation and improved wound healing in rats with laser burn. This work is the small animal model and lack of dose response. These findings suggest that RD may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for promoting wound healing during laser burn recovery.