title: Abietic acid isolated from pine resin (Resina Pini) enhances angiogenesis in HUVECs and accelerates cutaneous wound healing in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resin known as Resina Pini is listed in the Korean and Japanese pharmacopoeias and has been used for treating skin wounds and inflammation. Resin is composed of more than 50% abietic acid and 10% neutral substances.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, the wound-healing effects of abietic acid and the possible underlying mechanism of action were investigated in various in vitro and in vivo models.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of abietic acid on tube formation and migration were measured in human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was evaluated via Western blotting analysis. The wound-healing effects of abietic acid were assessed using a mouse model of cutaneous wounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that abietic acid enhanced cell migration and tube formation in HUVECs. Abietic acid induced significant angiogenic potential, which is associated with upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 expression. Additionally, 0.8μM abietic acid-treated groups showed accelerated wound closure compared to the controls in a mouse model of cutaneous wounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current data indicate that abietic acid treatment elevated cell migration and tube formation in HUVECs by the activation of ERK and p38 MAPKs. We suggest that abietic acid can be developed as a wound-healing agent.
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 461-701, South Korea. Electronic address: rhemf@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Jun Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300-716, South Korea. Electronic address: octantis@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Yun Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-744, South Korea. Electronic address: johnny.dslee@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Soo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, School of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 302-869, South Korea. Electronic address: koreadryoo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Natural Constituents Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung 210-340, South Korea. Electronic address: ms.shin@kist.re.kr.
authors.forename: Myoung-Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 461-701, South Korea. Electronic address: norikoy@gachon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamabe
authors.affiliation: Natural Constituents Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung 210-340, South Korea. Electronic address: snkim@kist.re.kr.
authors.forename: Su-Nam
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea. Electronic address: sarahlee0801@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seulah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, South Korea. Electronic address: khkim83@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Ki Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Electronic address: skysea@gachon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hae-Jeung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 300-716, South Korea. Electronic address: rssdr@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Seok Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 461-701, South Korea. Electronic address: kkang@gachon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D045784:Abietanes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045784:Abietanes; D012116:Resins, Plant; C013893:rosin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C023710:abietic acid
keywords: Abietic acid; MAPKs; Resin; Resina Pini; Tube formation; Wound healing