<i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> Accelerates Skin Wound Healing by Regulating the Expression of MMPs and TGF-β

• Main Authors: Min Cheol Kang, Silvia Yumnam, Woo Sung Park, Hae Min So, Ki Hyun Kim, Meong Cheol Shin, Mi-Jeong Ahn, Sun Yeou Kim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-12-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: <i>ulmus parvifolia</i>; wound healing; matrix metalloproteinase; transforming growth factor; skin rejuvenation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/1/59
• ISSN: 2077-0383

<i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> is one of the medicinal plants used traditionally for treatment of wounds. We intended to investigate the wound healing effect of the powder of <i>Ulmus parvifolia</i> (UP) root bark in a mouse wound healing model. We also determined the mechanisms of effects of <i>U. parvifolia</i> in skin and skin wound healing effects using a keratinocyte model. Animal experiments showed that the wound lesions in the mice decreased with 200 mesh <i>U. parvifolia</i> root bark powder and were significantly reduced with treatment by UP, compared with those treated with <i>Ulmus macrocarpa</i> (UM). Results from in vitro experiments also revealed that UP extract promoted the migration of human skin keratinocytes. UP powder treatment upregulated the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 protein and significantly increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-&#946; levels. We confirmed that topical administration of the bark powder exerted a significant effect on skin wound healing by upregulating the expression of MMP and transforming growth factor-&#946;. Our study suggests that <i>U. parvifolia</i> may be a potential candidate for skin wound healing including epidermal skin rejuvenation.