Molecular insight of nanosized Ba-Hao herbal ointment in accelerating chronic wound healing

Abstract

Chronic wound treatment poses a substantial challenge to healthcare systems. Certain herbal medicines have demonstrated clinical efficacy in promoting chronic wound healing, yet their therapeutic mechanisms at the molecular level remain elusive due to their complex composition and multifaceted nature. In this study, Ba-Hao ointment (BHO), a sophisticated herbal formulation with diverse ingredients, is selected as a model to precisely investigate its wound-healing mechanism. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking simulations reveal that BHO specifically interacts with key wound-healing proteins, including vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), suggesting its ability to modulate critical biological pathways involved in inflammation and tissue regeneration. Experimental validation further demonstrates that BHO significantly promotes cell proliferation, suppresses bacterial infection, and enhances the expression of essential growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and VEGFA in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), all of which are vital for effective wound healing. In vivo studies confirm that BHO accelerates wound closure, reduces inflammation, and promotes the development of well-organized granulation tissue via activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This study is interesting since it unveils BHO's molecular role in chronic wound healing, furthering herbal medicine development and insights.