Icariin improves cutaneous wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

In diabetes, wound healing gets delayed due to various factors. Icariin, a flavonoid obtained from the plants of the Epimedium genus, exhibited anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and matrix metalloproteinase-inhibiting effects to heal skin wounds in non-diabetic rats on topical application. Hence, we designed the present study to explore icariin's potential to heal cutaneous diabetic wounds in rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin in male Wistar rats and they were divided into two groups after creating a skin wound of approximately 4 cm2 area. Simple ointment base and 0.04% icariin ointment were applied twice daily for 19 days in the control and the treatment group, respectively. The healing of the wound was assessed based on wound closure, the expression patterns of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-10, CD31, MMP-2 and -9 activities, and collagen deposition on predetermined days after wound creation.