Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on hypertrophic scars of rabbit ears

Objective To investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rg3 (GS-Rg3) on the hypertrophic scars of rabbit ears and provide experimental foundation for study on its inhibition on the hypertrophic scars. Methods Hypertrophic scars were proved on 24 white rabbits,of which the whole level of the skin was excised for 2 cm×2 cm,4-6 points for each ear,controlled by itself. GS-Rg3 0.1 mL(concentration 3 g·L-1) was injected into experimental group and the same volume of saline solution into control group,once every three days regionally. The scar tissues were collected 2,4 and 6 weeks after the injection respectively,the thickness of the scar,structure under the microscope,and the expressions of PCNA,Bcl-2 and Bax were observed. Results In control group,three weeks after the epithelization of the wound,the thickness of the hypertrophic tissue was 3-4 times of ventro ear skin. Under microscope,the dermis was hyperplasia and got thicker,consisted with amount of fibroblast cells,collagen and vessels,the collagen was untidy,nodule or vortex,and the cartilage could be observed in some region.In experimental group, six weeks after the injection,the skin got thinner,the collagen became neath and the quantity of the vessels decreased. In the hypertrophic scars,there was high expression of PCNA,the percent of positive cells was higher (39.55%±6.07%) compared normal tissue (11.18%±1.71%).In GS-Rg3 group,the expression of Bcl-2 was gradually decreased two weeks after injection and obviously decreased six weeks later,there was significant difference compared with before injection (P0.01), and that of Bax increased significantly two weeks after injection compared with before injection (P0.01). Conclusion GS-Rg3 can inhibit the hypertrophic scars in rabbit ear and decrease the fibrosis degree of the scar tissue.