Baicalin-loaded carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel accelerated diabetic foot ulcer healing by restoring cell viability and migration, reducing inflammation, lowering blood glucose, and regulating MAPK1 expression.
Baicalin restored high glucose-reduced HaCaT cell viability and migration in vitro.
Baicalin decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in high glucose-exposed HaCaT cells.
Baicalin-loaded carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel lowered blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced DFU rats.
Baicalin-loaded carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel accelerated wound closure in DFU rats.
Bioinformatic analysis identified MAPK1 as a key target of baicalin in DFU, and molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinity.
Baicalin upregulated MAPK1 expression, and shRNA-mediated MAPK1 knockdown attenuated baicalin's therapeutic effects both in vitro and in vivo.
This research suggests that baicalin, a natural plant compound, can help heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) — a serious and difficult-to-treat complication of diabetes. When delivered in a special gel made from chitosan (a material derived from shellfish shells), baicalin significantly reduced blood sugar levels and sped up wound closure in diabetic rats over a two-week period. In laboratory experiments using skin cells exposed to high glucose (mimicking diabetic conditions), baicalin improved cell survival and movement, and reduced levels of proteins associated with inflammation. The research also investigated how baicalin works at a molecular level. Using computer-based analysis and gene-silencing experiments, the researchers found that baicalin acts largely by increasing the activity of a protein called MAPK1. When MAPK1 was experimentally turned off using genetic techniques, most of the beneficial effects of baicalin were reversed, both in cell cultures and in living animals. Molecular modeling further confirmed that baicalin binds tightly to MAPK1, supporting its role as a direct target of the compound. This research suggests that baicalin delivered via a chitosan hydrogel could be a promising approach for treating diabetic foot ulcers, and that the MAPK1 signaling pathway is central to its mechanism of action. The authors note that further research into the molecular mechanisms and clinical applications is needed before this approach could be considered for use in humans.
Zhang X, Zhang Y, Yang L, Fang S, Mei X. (2026). Baicalin-loaded chitosan hydrogel accelerates diabetic foot ulcer healing by regulating MAPK1 expression.. Journal of molecular histology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-026-10840-0