title: In vivo early intervention and the therapeutic effects of 20(s)-ginsenoside rg3 on hypertrophic scar formation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intra-lesional injections of corticosteroids, interferon, and chemotherapeutic drugs are currently the most popular treatments of hypertrophic scar formation. However, these drugs can only be used after HS is formed, and not during the inflammatory phase of wound healing, which regulates the HS forming process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a new, effective, combining therapeutic and safe drug for early intervention and treatment for hypertrophic scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell viability assay and flow cytometric analysis were studied in vitro. Animal studies were done to investigate the combining therapeutic effects of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) on the inflammatory phase of wound healing and HS formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro studies showed that Rg3 can inhibit HS fibroblasts proliferation and induce HSF apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo studies demonstrated that Rg3 can limit the exaggerated inflammation, and do not delay the wound healing process, which indicates that Rg3 could be used as an early intervention to reduce HS formation. Topical injection of 4 mg/mL Rg3 can reduce HS formation by 34%. Histological and molecular studies revealed that Rg3 injection inhibits fibroblasts proliferation thus reduced the accumulation of collagen fibers, and down-regulates VEGF expression in the HS tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rg3 can be employed as an early intervention and a combining therapeutic drug to reduce inflammation and HS formation as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Changmin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Baoshan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yaoming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 639 Zhi Zao Ju Road, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010031:Otitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C097367:ginsenoside Rg3