To investigate the promoting effect and mechanism of hyperoside (Hyp) on wound healing in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) rats by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and the Nod-like receptor family Pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome.

A total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, metformin group, low-dose experimental group and high-dose experimental group, with 10 rats in each group. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), wound healing rate and transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure (TcpO₂) in the tissues surrounding the wounds were measured using a blood glucose meter. Pathological changes in the wound tissues were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Western blotting was employed to assess the relative expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), NF-κB p65, phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB p65 and NLRP3 proteins.

The FBG levels in blank, model, metformin, low-dose experimental and high-dose experimental groups were (5.31±0.91), (22.52±3.18), (11.27±2.35), (13.11±2.67) and (8.76±1.15) mmol·L^-1, respectively; the wound healing rates were (76.91±12.30)%, (9.53±1.01)%, (45.26±6.15)%, (39.94±5.47)% and (57.10±9.26)%, respectively; the TcpO₂ values were (41.09±8.51), (24.35±4.97), (33.27±5.68), (30.84±3.26), and (37.92±4.14) mmHg, respectively; the serum levels of IL-8 were (15.34±0.39), (41.92±3.12), (26.68±2.28), (30.55±3.27) and (17.95±2.70) ng·L^-1, respectively; IL-1β levels were (31.05±4.62), (64.39±7.14), (46.62±5.07), (50.21±3.92) and (39.54±4.25) ng·L^-1, respectively; TNF-α levels were (26.95±4.15), (69.74±7.43), (39.85±4.29), (45.08±4.36) and (35.52±2.95) ng·L^-1, respectively; and CRP levels were (0.69±0.08), (5.11±0.60), (3.23±0.58), (3.68±0.71) and (1.95±0.30) ng·L^-1, respectively; the protein relative expression levels of MMP-9 were 0.23±0.03, 0.99±0.11, 0.62±0.05, 0.74±0.06 and 0.39±0.04, respectively; the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were (22.56±1.23)%, (97.07±5.67)%, (60.18±5.01)%, (70.49±5.98)% and (38.39±4.15)%, respectively; the p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 protein relative expression levels were 0.21±0.02, 1.23±0.10, 0.51±0.04, 0.57±0.06 and 0.33±0.04, respectively; and the NLRP3 protein relative expression levels were 0.25±0.01, 0.93±0.07, 0.72±0.08, 0.80±0.06 and 0.35±0.04, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the model group with the blank group and the low- and high-dose experimental groups with the model group (all P<0.05).

Hyp promotes wound healing in DFU rats by inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways, reducing inflammation and reducing MMP-9 expression.