Promotive effects of four herbal medicine ARCC on wound healing in mice and human

Background Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) had been extensively used in China for wound management and had shown great potential in wound treatment while its mechanism is still needed to be addressed. Objective The present study sought to investigate the therapuetic effect of the TCM ARCC on acute and chronic wounds. Methods Here, using the ultra-low temperature preparation method, the mixed ultramicro powder prepared with Angelica (A), Angelica (R), Calcined Gypsum (C) and Caleramide (C) named as ARCC. The effects of ARCC on wound healing in adult and aged mice were comparatively evaluated through a full-thickness skin defect model. In addition, we randomly selected 10 patients aged 55 to 70 years from a cohort of 500 patients with diabetic feet to assess their prognosis. Results As the results showed that the healing rate had delayed in aged mice compared to adult mice, while ARCC prominently augmented the healing process in aged mice. Moreover, ARCC treatment wounds in aged mice showed accelerated re-epithelization, enhanced granulation tissue formation, and increased vascularization, which was similar to that of adult mice. Furthermore, ARCC also achieved therapeutic effects in diabetic foot patients, accelerating wound healing. The results found that foot ulcers improved significantly 7 days after the ARCC administration, and 80% of patients were healed within 1 month. Discussion In the present study, ARCC was found to have therapeutic effects on both acute and chronic wounds in animal models. ARCC also demonstrated therapeutic effects in diabetic feet, which promoted wound healing, prevented wound infection, and avoided the risk of further surgery or amputation. All these evidences suggested ARCC was a promising approach for wound treatment. Conclusions ARCC might be recommended as a promising therapeutic medication in diabetic and chronic refractory wounds.