title: Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Huangqi Injection (Radix astragali) on Random Skin Flap Survival in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Huangqi (Radix astragali) is a traditional Chinese drug, designed to "buqi," which means invigorating vital energy, widely used in clinical settings. We investigated the effect of Huangqi injection on the survival of random skin flaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  McFarlane flaps were established in 60 rats divided into two groups. Postoperative celiac injections were given to both groups for 7 days. Huangqi was injected into the test group, and saline was injected into controls. On day 7, tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemically evaluated, and the expression levels of xanthine oxidase determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean area of flap survival in the test group was significantly higher compared with the controls. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and superoxide dismutase, and microvessel development, were markedly increased in the test group, and the malondialdehyde level was reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Huangqi injection promotes random skin flap survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Leyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Dingsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C027492:Huang Qi; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase