Flavonoids accelerate wound healing of pressure sore by promoting angiogenesis: Potential mechanism

Pressure ulcers can progress in four stages based on the level of tissue damage from discoloration of the upper layer of skin to the ulcers of the deep skin. These sores extend below the subcutaneous fat into your deep tissues like muscle, tendons and ligaments. Pressure ulcers bed sores, are the most common complications after surgery and are difficult to treat. Flavonoids Liquid is a typical traditional Chinese medicine, which composed of Rheum officinale and Abelmoschus manihot. Recent study showed that the aqueous extract of Rheum officinale (da huang) possesses cytoprotective, antioxidant and wound healing effects. In this study, we investigated the role of flavonoids on pressure ulcer wound healing and its potential mechanism. A rat model mimicking pressure ulcer was developed and used to test the efficacy of flavonoids in ulcer healing. It was found that flavonoids significantly increase wound healing of pressure ulcer. Moreover, flavonoids promoted the expression of biomarkers related to angiogenesis in the rat model. In conclusion, flavonoids could increase the vasculature in wounds and could be used for treatment of pressure ulcer or bed sores.