Red yeast rice expedites wound healing in diabetic rats: emphasis on its pro-collagen and angiogenic activities

Abstract Delayed wound healing is a challenge, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus. Red yeast rice (RYR) is a traditional medicine with known uses in several ailments including stasis of blood and weakness of limbs. Experimentally, it was shown to exhibit antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of RYR to promote healing of excised skin in diabetic rats. Our data indicated that application RYR in a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based gel (5 or 10%) significantly expedited wound retraction. This was associated by significant antioxidant activities of RYR as evidenced by decreased accumulation of malondialdehyde, and enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in skin tissues. Further, RYR significantly decreased the immune expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). RYR enriched skin content of hydroxyproline and up-regulated mRNA expression of COL 1A1. Also, RYR-treated rats showed higher expression of platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) as compared to untreated control rats. In conclusion, RYR expedites wound healing of diabetic rats. This is at least in part, due to its ability to act as an antioxidant, reduce inflammation, promote collagen production, and support the formation of new blood vessels.