Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Yinhuang Lotion on wound healing in diabetic ulcer rats.Methods: A diabetic model was established in SD rats using a high - sugar, high - fat diet combined with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). A diabetic skin ulcer model was then created through surgical intervention and stimulation with 50% glacial acetic acid. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group, a Yinhuang Lotion group, and a Kangfuxin Liquid group, with 12 rats in each group. An additional 12 normal SD rats served as the control group. The ulcer wounds of the control and model groups were covered with gauze soaked in normal saline. The Yinhuang Lotion group received gauze soaked in Yinhuang Lotion, while the Kangfuxin Liquid group was treated with gauze soaked in Kangfuxin Liquid. All groups underwent daily dressing changes for 28 days. On days 14 and 28, six rats from each group were randomly selected to assess general condition, body weight, fasting blood glucose, ulcer area, and ulcer healing rate. Serum levels of interleukin - 18 (IL - 18) and tumor necrosis factor - α (TNF - α) were measured using ELISA, while the expression levels of hypoxia - inducible factor 1α (HIF - 1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected via Western blot.Results: On days 14 and 28, compared with the control group, the model group exhibited larger ulcer areas, lower ulcer healing rates, higher levels of inflammatory factors, and reduced expression of related proteins (P <0.05). In contrast, the Yinhuang Lotion and Kangfuxin Liquid groups showed smaller ulcer areas, higher ulcer healing rates, lower inflammatory factor levels, and increased expression of related proteins (P <0.05). Furthermore, on days 14 and 28, the Yinhuang Lotion group demonstrated significantly smaller ulcer areas (P <0.01), higher ulcer healing rates (P < 0.01), lower inflammatory factor levels (P <0.01), and higher expression of related proteins (P < 0.01) compared with the Kangfuxin Liquid group.Conclusion: Yinhuang Lotion can promote angiogenesis in ischemic wounds, accelerate tissue repair, and shorten the treatment period for diabetic ulcers by inhibiting inflammatory factors and regulating the HIF - 1α/VEGF signaling pathway, thereby effectively treating diabetic ulcer wounds.

Yinhuang Lotion  /  Diabetic ulcer  /  IL - 18  /  TNF - α  /  HIF - 1α/VEGF pathway