Tissue Array Transgene Expression System for the Evaluation of Effect of Medicinal Herbs on Wound-healing

We developed a novel experimental system for the evaluation of medicinal plant extracts, for the topical treatment of wound-healing using an in vivo pig skin tissue model. Various purified phyto-chemical compounds from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, singular or in combination, were applied to multiple needle-stabbing or scalpel-carved wounds that were arranged as an in vivo tissue array on pig abdominal skin. Wound-healing activity and potential efficacy of test herbs were evaluated using a gene gun-mediated reporter transgene expression system, photography and measurements of skin color, wound closure and skin tensile strength. A synergistic effect between shikonin and β, β-dimethylacetyl shikonin was clearly demonstrated using these assays. Results suggested that there were different quantity of therapeutic activity between single compound and mixed compounds. Our studies show an effective and convenient method for the evaluation of a series of herbal extracts with wound-healing properties, using standardized tissue arrays on a single large animal.