Narrative review of the mechanism of natural products and scar formation in wound repair

Introduction

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, accounting for approximately 16% of the total body weight (1). This organ is often injured due to physical or chemical factors, resulting in wounds. Wound healing is a complex and multifactorial response to the disruption of the normal anatomy and function of skin tissue, which mainly includes four progressive stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodeling (2). This process involves numerous cell types, extracellular matrix (ECM), and soluble mediators; cell differentiation, migration, and proliferation are key to repairing the integrity of injured tissues (3). The key to promote wound repair and reduce wound discomfort and scars is to avoid infection (4). At present, drugs for wound repair have been analyzed for their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties (5), and based on these findings, many clinical drugs for local wounds have been developed, such as platelet-rich plasma gel. However, most drugs appear to have simple active components with pharmacological effects and may have certain side effects on the body (6,7), hence the need for drugs for wound repair with better efficacy and fewer side effects.

Natural products have long been the source of new drug discovery and development and, therefore, are also the main source of clinical drugs. Some studies have indicated that some natural plants can produce short chain peptides with smaller molecular weights in vivo, that is, plant defensins. Plant defensins are peptides that are widely distributed in plants and have significant antifungal activity, a wide antibacterial spectrum, and a strong resistance to pathogens (8,9). Based on an early report on fibroblast growth in human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as muscle and skin tissues, peptides were found to be effective in promoting mitosis of cells, thereby increasing the number of fibroblasts in muscle and skin tissues (10). Among natural products, propolis, ectoine and its derivatives, aloe, and arteannuin can promote tissue repair and achieve good results, showing anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities (11-14). In this paper, we review recent studies on the role and mechanism of some natural products on scar formation found in wound repair and point out future research directions, thus providing a reference for further study on natural products for wound repair (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Wound healing is a complex process, and multiple conditions can lead to impaired wound healing and, consequently, scar formation. Natural products discovered and applied for a long time have always been the source of new drugs.

We present the following article in accordance with the Narrative Review reporting checklist (available at https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-21-7046/rc).

Methods

This article reviews recent studies on the role and mechanism of some natural products on scar formation found in wound repair and point out future research directions, thus providing a reference for further study on natural products for wound repair. The search strategy summary as shown in Table 1.

Mechanism of natural products in repairing wounds

Anti-inflammation and antibacterial effects

Plant defensins are short chain peptides widely found in natural products that show antibacterial effects. They can interact with fungal-specific plasma membrane components and then recognize intracellular specific receptors after being taken up to induce ROS and apoptosis and, consequently, bacteriostasis (15,16). For example, resveratrol can effectively inhibit pathogenic fungi and bacteria in human skin. It is a plant defensin produced after stimulation of pathogenic microorganisms (such as fungi and bacteria) or environmental deterioration (such as ultraviolet light) (17). In addition, resveratrol can inhibit inflammation. Specifically, resveratrol can regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines through a mechanism closely related to NF-kB and AP-1 (18) and can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage inducible nitric oxide synthase and, therefore, inhibit the production of the proinflammatory factor nitric oxide. After the skin is injured, suppuration often occurs due to bacterial infections, but the condition can be improved by different degrees through treatment with Veratrum extraction (1:4) (19).

Inhibiting scar fibroblast growth

Skin wounds are prone to cause functional disturbances during the healing process and ultimately scar formation (20). Fibroblasts are effector cells in scar formation during wound healing. Studies have found that margarita liquid acts on human skin scar fibroblasts; a higher concentration of margarita liquid at a higher concentration can achieve higher inhibition and apoptosis rates of fibroblasts (21). Hirudin also has a significant inhibitory effect on skin fibroblasts in a concentration-dependent manner (22). By using a scar model in the rabbit ear, the group treated with hirudin ointment showed smaller fibroblasts and decreased cell bodies, indicating that hirudin inhibited the growth of scar fibroblasts and promoted apoptosis. Additionally, arteannuin and artesunate can inhibit the growth of skin scar fibroblasts cultured in vitro (23). Ren et al. proved that Chinese galls and centipedes could inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis, significantly affecting the morphology and ultrastructure of fibroblasts and ultimately inhibiting scar formation after wound healing (24).

Stimulating the expression of cell growth factors

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) shows a close relation with wound healing. In the early stage of wound healing, TGF-β can promote the expression of key factors, such as the ECM protein fibronectin, type I and III collagen, and vascular endothelial growth factor (25). Among the TGF-β family, TGF-β1 can stimulate fibroblast contraction to promote wound healing (26). Some studies have confirmed that in a model of wound repair, powder medicine composed of hairyvein agrimonia herb, lotus root, frankincense and cattail pollen can regulate the TGF-β1 signaling pathway to markedly increase TGF-β1 mRNA expression, promote wound healing, and consequently reduce scar formation (27).

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a crucial link in the repair process of tissue injury. It can promote fibroblast proliferation, neovascularization, synthesis of hyaluronic acid in skin fibroblasts, and accumulation of leukocytes at the inflammatory site. bFGF has been widely recognized in clinical practice and used to promote wound healing and scar tissue healing (28). Additionally, hirudin has been proven to significantly downregulate TGF-β1 mRNA and protein levels while upregulating bFGF mRNA and protein levels, thereby inhibiting scar formation after wound repair (29).

Promoting the expression of fibronectin

It has been reported that in a rat model of wound repair, fibronectin expression is significantly increased by the water-in-oil cream “Shengfuling” made from 80 traditional Chinese herbal components, such as raw rhubarb (da huang), rhizoma coptidis (huang lian), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (dang gui), Semen Persicae (tao ren), Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong (chuan xiong), frankincense (ru xiang), myrrh (mo yao), sesame oil, and span (30). The above findings suggested that Shengfuling could promote fibronectin expression in the wound, thereby repairing the wound and reducing scar formation.

Inhibiting platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)

According to existing studies, PDGF is involved in wound repair by promoting the proliferation and chemotaxis of fibroblasts and stimulating fibronectin synthesis. It also has a regulatory effect on collagen synthesis and decomposition and promotes scar formation. Some researchers have determined that tetrandrine inhibits PDGF, TGFβ-induced proliferation, and collagen synthesis in human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts using 3H-TdR and 3H-proline incorporation (31).

Inhibiting the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)

CTGF, also known as CCN family protein 2, is a cytoplasmic protein that is vital in tissue development and remodeling. CTGF is rarely expressed in normal adult tissues but is significantly upregulated in fibrotic tissues and increases during wound healing (32). Studies have shown that CTGF is induced by TGF-β1 and is a downstream regulator of TGF-β1. CTGF is involved in keloid pathogenesis by promoting collagen synthesis and deposition, which subsequently leads to a persistent fibrotic response (33). Additionally, curcumin can reduce CTGF protein and mRNA expression in keloid fibroblasts, suggesting that curcumin can inhibit collagen synthesis, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of CTGF expression by curcumin (34).

Increasing the production of ECM

The ECM includes collagen, fibronectin, matrix metalloproteinases, glycosaminoglycan and other components. The ECM produces beneficial cells and proteins that contribute to wound repair (35). Among them, matrix metalloproteinases can degrade the components of ECM, remove damaged proteins and temporary ECM in inflammatory stage, degrade capillary basement membrane in proliferative stage, shrink and reshape tissue in remodeling stage, and participate in cell migration and angiogenesis (36). Opuntia extract, in a rabbit ear model of scarring, can decrease collagen I expression and promote MMP-1 expression of collagen III in hypertrophic scar tissue, thereby reducing scar hyperplasia after wound repair and promoting the softening and absorption of the formed hypertrophic scar tissue (37). Curcumin can also reduce the expression of procollagen types I and III in keloid fibroblasts and, therefore, decrease scar production in keloids (35,38). Additionally, by using a nude mouse model of hypertrophic scarring, onion extract and quercetin were shown to significantly increase MMP-1 expression and affect the ECM, thereby reducing scar formation in wound repair (39).

Effects of common natural products on wound repair

Propolis for wound (burned) tissue

Classical wound repair, by definition, is divided into the hemostasis phase, inflammatory phase, proliferative phase and remodeling phase (40,41). These four phases overlap rather than strictly separate in time. The whole process is accomplished under the close coordination of various types of repair cells, cytokines, ECM molecules, and some proteolytic enzymes. Among the various factors that affect wound repair, the inflammatory response, bacterial infection and oxidative damage are three critical factors. Therefore, it has been suggested that the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of propolis are reasons for its promotion of tissue regeneration and wound repair (42).

A study (43) stated that propolis is closely related to chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and hyaluronic acid accumulation during the repair of burn wounds. Propolis can accelerate tissue repair by stimulating the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans required for granulation tissue growth and for closing the injured site. Moreover, by accelerating chondroitin/dermatan sulfate structural adjustment, propolis is allowed to positively affect tissue repair in combination with growth factors. Some studies (44) have found that propolis and its active components are able to upregulate the production of TGF-β1 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T lymphocytes, and TGF-β1 is an important cytokine involved in fibroblast proliferation and collagen secretion (45-48). Accordingly, it was suggested that propolis may repair wound tissues by affecting the synthesis of cytokines involved in ECM production, such as TGF-β1 and fibroblast growth factor (FGF).

Effects of aloe on skin wound repair

Clinically, antibiotic ointments such as erythromycin and bactroban are the main treatment for skin wounds, but due to the increase in drug-resistant strains or a narrow antibacterial spectrum, secondary infections occur from time to time; oral antibiotics cause severe side effects. In addition, FGF, which has a definite effect on wound repair, has no anti-infective effect and is expensive and therefore difficult to popularize. In contrast, aloe can not only inhibit bacterial reproduction and prevent posttraumatic infections but can also have a strong vitamin D-like effect and improve local blood circulation. With natural moisturizing properties caused by polysaccharides and monosaccharides in aloe and with a natural gel state, the active ingredients of aloe are more likely to penetrate the skin and be absorbed by tissues. According to clinical trials, aloe combined with a laser method reduced wound scab formation time and healing time (41). Aloe can reduce the expression of inflammatory factors and therefore relieve local redness, swelling, warmth and pain (49). Additionally, aloe can stimulate the tissue to secrete TNF-α, thus improving the anti-infective ability of local tissue; promoting the proliferation and differentiation of fibroblasts, endothelial cells and epidermal cells; inducing the proliferation of capillaries; and consequently improving wound microcirculation and contributing to wound healing (50).

Effect of Polygonum cuspidatum on skin wound repair

Symptoms such as multiple organ dysfunction, inflammatory response, and sepsis will occur in response to trauma (51), and Polygonum cuspidatum has analgesic, heat-clearing, and antioxidant effects (52,53). Some studies have researched the effect of Polygonum cuspidatum extract on wound healing in rats and found its wound healing activity. The mechanism is related to an increase in fibroblasts and hair follicle cells and a decrease in inflammatory cells (54). Polydatin, the main component of Polygonum cuspidatum, promotes the healing of ulcer wounds in type 2 diabetic mice by promoting fibroblast chemotaxis (55). In addition, wet compression with a compound Polygonum cuspidatum solution for healing sores, a Chinese traditional medicine prescription with Polygonum cuspidatum as the sovereign drug, can treat chronic refractory ulcers, showing a high effective rate without adverse effects (56). The decoction for clearing heat and promoting diuresis (Qingre Lishi decoction), a Chinese herbal compound with Polygonum cuspidatum as the sovereign drug, can effectively promote epithelial cell crawling, accelerate the regeneration of various components in granulation tissue, inhibit the inflammatory response, and thus promote wound healing (57). Collectively, Polygonum cuspidatum has great potential in repairing skin wounds.

Prospects

The efficacy of natural products has been recognized in the clinic and has broad research prospects, but the components of natural products are complex and have the characteristics of multiple targets and multiple links, hence the need for in-depth study. To fully combine the pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine, future studies should be in-depth on the mechanism of natural products and compound drugs in wound repair and on animal experiments and dosage form modification. The purpose here is to screen and develop drugs to reduce scar hyperplasia with exact effects and fewer side effects. Proteolysis by proteolytic enzymes, such as plasmin, matrix metalloproteinases, and their activators and inhibitors, plays a critical role in wound repair. Some keratinocytes often express some matrix metalloproteinases and plasminogen activators (58,59), thus promoting the hydrolysis of components such as fibrin in blood clots to facilitate migration. Proteolytic enzymes produced by inflammatory reactions can degrade denatured proteins and tissues; however, excessive enzymolysis is not conducive to the deposition of new matrix and hinders the progress of repair. Therefore, whether and how natural products affect the expression of proteolytic enzymes also need to be further explored.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the Narrative Review reporting checklist. Available at https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-21-7046/rc

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-21-7046/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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